OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- Operation Homefront unveiled the latest housing facility known as the ‘Village’ serving Southern California in support of wounded warriors and their families of Camp Pendleton and Balboa Naval Medical Center April 28, in Oceanside Calif.

The mission of Operation Homefront is to provide emergency financial aid and other assistance to the families of ill or injured service members. The national nonprofit organization led more than 4,500 volunteers whom have helped more than 400,000 service members since its inception in 2002.

“We’re proud to open what is essentially a mini-military community for the wounded warriors and their families where they can comfortably and successfully transition to civilian life without having to worry about their housing and utilities,” said Jim Knotts, Operation Homefront President and CEO in a press release.

The Village will provide transitional family housing for wounded warriors leaving the military due to their injuries on and off the battlefield. The new facility will not only cater to those on Camp Pendleton, but Marines coming from Balboa Naval Medical Center as well.

“Words cannot express how grateful my Marines and I are for having a facility such as this,” said Brigadier General Joseph L. Osterman, assistant commanding general, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton. “Marines and sailors returning home with injuries have many issues to deal with, Operation Homefront helps alleviate the stress of finding a place for their families to stay during their recovery process, and for that I am truly thankful.”

The housing facility is the fourth Village developed by Operation Homefront, with three additional facilities in Washington DC area and San Antonio, TX. Marines, sailors and their families will live in fully furnished apartments rent-free while working with onsite case mangers to customize plans to transition back to civilian life.

Wounded warriors living in the Village will participate in support groups, financial budgeting workshops benefits briefings, college need and job integration support as part of Operation Homefront’s mission to get wounded warriors back on their feet.

Once the wounded warriors and their families have become self-sufficient and ready to handle civilian life again, Operation Homefront counselors help them find suitable housing that will best suit their needs.

“This is another special day for us since it allows us to expand our services to more joint service members in the Southern California area,” said Knotts. “Due to the generosity of our many private and corporate donors, we are able to expand our Village footprint to this very important area that serves so many Marine Corps and Navy service members.”