Villagers for Veterans welcomes first veteran to Ashley's Cottage

Every morning, U.S. Navy veteran Tracey Greene makes her coffee, sits down with her Bible and prays in the comfort of Ashley’s Cottage. 

Greene felt a sense of calm the first time she walked into the home, and the temporary housing for women veterans allowed that feeling to grow.  

“I can’t even explain how peaceful this place is,” said Greene, of Fruitland Park. “I’ve just been able to sit here and spend time thinking about my mistakes and how I can fix those mistakes.” 

Villagers for Veterans, an organization that supports injured veterans, recently welcomed Greene as the first veteran to live in Ashley’s Cottage. It is a house in Fruitland Park that provides a safe place for women veterans to go as they transition back into civilian life or need help getting back on their feet, and it can accommodate up to six women at a time. 

“It’s a wonderful thing to finally see our mission go forward,” said Marie Bogdonoff, founder and president of Villagers for Veterans. 

The organization also is working on opening Ashley’s House in Eustis, which will serve the same purpose. 

Greene moved into Ashley’s Cottage about a month ago and is appreciative of the support Villagers for Veterans gives her, she said. 

Greene’s grandfather Lesley served in the U.S. Army during World War II and her older brother Mitch served in the U.S. Navy.  She enlisted in the military in 1984 at 18 years old, inspired by her relatives’ service.  

She served until 1985 and left the military after experiencing sexual trauma during her service, she said. That experience led her down the path of substance abuse and later homelessness.

Trauma and addiction took over her life, she said. Someone on the street held her at knife point, she was estranged from her mother and she struggled with finances, she added. Greene has since dealt with post-traumatic stress disorder.  

Though she left the military with a general discharge, two years ago she applied for and was granted an honorable discharge by the Secretary of the Navy. 

Greene also is proud to share that she celebrated four years sober on Nov. 5. 

In March, Greene packed up her belongings in Prince George, Virginia, and moved to this area to be closer to her mother and younger brother. In a matter of a few months, Greene lived in two different mold-infested apartments. 

She sleeps with a CPAP machine, and so she couldn’t stay in either for long. 

Greene was prepared to sleep in her car when she came across Villagers for Veterans on Facebook. 

“I didn’t even get the chance to sleep in my car, because they really pulled up,” Greene said. “They met the need when I had a need, and I was awestruck.” 

Once the Villagers for Veterans board met with Greene and got her application, she was moved in within a few days, said Bogdonoff, of the Village of Pine Ridge. 

The process to apply for Ashley’s Cottage includes submitting a DD214 to show military service, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability letter, a letter from a doctor and a letter of reference detailing the veteran’s story. 

Once all that is submitted, the process moves fairly quickly. The application can be found online at villagersforveterans.org.  

The organization also works with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs departments in Gainesville and Orlando, which make recommendations.  

Women can stay as long as they need help getting back on their feet, Bogdonoff said.  

“Our goal is to help them navigate and facilitate whatever service they need,” she said. “And get them on the road to a successful transition or just a successful life, depending on what part of their life they’re at.” 

The goal is to help the women save enough money to move into their own housing, eliminate debt, get them to appointments on time and more.  However, Bogdonoff realizes each veteran will have unique needs and goals. 

“I don’t know how long I’ll be here, but this place, I can’t even describe it,” Greene said. 

The progress on Ashley’s House had a few setbacks, but Villagers for Veterans has a new general contractor, it has resubmitted the proper permits and should be back on track soon, Bogdonoff said.  

For more information on Villagers for Veterans, Ashley’s Cottage or Ashley’s House, visit villagersforveterans.org or email villagersforveterans@gmail.com. 

Senior writer Veronica Wernicke can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5307, or veronica.wernicke@thevillagesmedia.com.