HomeFront Haven is a place of respite for military spouses

Patricia Sandoval once believed she would never marry someone in the military. With two brothers and an uncle who had served, she had witnessed the demands of military life and doubted her ability to keep up with its constant movement. Yet life proved otherwise. Shortly after completing graduate school, she met a sailor—and fell in love.

When she shared the news of her upcoming marriage, the response was not what she expected. Having just earned her Master of Public Health degree from an Ivy League institution, many peers warned her that she was “wasting her education and talent” and that she “wouldn’t amount to anything” as a military spouse. Those words lingered.

With the demands and constant upheavals over normalcy, she couldn’t help but find herself comparing her life to that of her former classmates. It wasn’t until a move to Bahrain in 2016 that her perspective began to change. There, she experienced the transformative power of the military community—especially among spouses.

On her second day in the Middle East, she discovered she was pregnant with her first son. Far from home, surrounded by extreme heat and uncertainty, she feared facing motherhood alone. What she did not expect was the overwhelming support from fellow military spouses. Women she had just met organized a baby shower, created meal trains, and offered their time so she could rest.

In that season, she experienced a level of care and connection that reshaped her understanding of community.

That support left a lasting impression on how she would later show up for others.

Years later, in February 2023, after nine years of marriage and with two children, she faced another challenge. Her husband received orders for an unexpected eight-month deployment to the Middle East shortly after arriving at a new duty station. Unlike previous deployments, he would be alone from his command.

Although her mother came to help, her mental health began to decline. When the October 7th Attacks unfolded in Israel and her husband was sent to Baghdad, her anxiety intensified. She found herself confronting fears she had never experienced before—fear of loss, fear of raising two children alone, and fear of navigating life without the partner who had been her anchor.

At her lowest point, she experienced suicidal ideation. That moment became a turning point. She realized that no matter how experienced a military spouse may be, the weight of the lifestyle can impact anyone. Initially hesitant to seek therapy, she had believed that doing so meant she was not strong enough. But through professional help and the support of her community, she came to understand that strength often lies in asking for help.

With a supportive village, even the most difficult seasons can be endured.

When her husband returned home safely, she made a commitment—to pay forward the support she had received. She envisioned creating a program to support military spouses and partners navigating deployment.

That vision led her to apply for the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Fellowship at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. As part of the application, she proposed a Personal Leadership Project: a three-day therapeutic retreat designed to provide community-centered care, along with continued support before and up to 12 months after the retreat through peer facilitators. When she was accepted, the idea became a responsibility.

“HomeFront Haven is a soft place to land—before, during, and after deployment. When your person gets orders, life tilts. Sleep goes sideways. Your brain sprints at 2 a.m. You keep everyone steady. Who’s steadying you,” Patricia added.

In 2025, HomeFront Haven was established under the fiscal sponsorship of Veterans Collaborative. In a short time, the organization built meaningful partnerships, including with the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at The Up Center, and launched its first retreats, with plans for expansion in the coming years.

Recently, the first Haven Hero cohort—a group of six military spouses each navigating their own deployment journey—came together. The experience was powerful, affirming the very mission that inspired its creation.

Looking back, she often thinks of the woman she was twelve years earlier—the one who felt lost, uncertain, and questioned her worth. That woman eventually found her purpose and shared it with her military spouse community to receive the fruitfulness of our journey.

To learn more about HomeFront Haven and its programs, check out its Support for Military Spouses & Partners page.

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