In crisis? You are not alone.Crisis?Veterans Crisis Line: call 988 then press 1or text 838255

About us

Veteran-led, community-funded, built to serve

Since 2009, we have helped more than 18,000 veterans and families find benefits, homes, careers, and care in the Sacramento region.

Our mission

No veteran should have to fight the system alone

Freedom Ridge Veterans Resource Center helps veterans, service members, and military families navigate benefits, secure stable housing, build careers, and access mental health care. One team, every step, no wrong door.

Freedom Ridge began in a single donated office with two volunteer service officers and a simple promise: if a veteran walks through the door, we help. Today our team of navigators, clinicians, and peer specialists carries that same promise across four connected programs so no one falls through the cracks between them.

We are an independent nonprofit, funded by grants and neighbors who believe those who served deserve a community that shows up for them in return.

What guides us

Our values

  1. No wrong door

    However you reach us, we help. If it is not our program, we will walk you to the one that fits.

  2. Veteran-led

    Most of our team has worn the uniform. We lead with lived experience and mutual respect.

  3. Confidential

    Your story stays private. We protect your trust as carefully as your information.

  4. Whole-person care

    Benefits, housing, work, and health are connected. We treat the whole person, not one form.

Our team

People who have walked the path

  • Denise Whitfield

    Executive Director, U.S. Army veteran

    Twenty-two years in the Army, the last eight running installation family programs. Denise took over Freedom Ridge in 2016 and still keeps two intake hours a week on her calendar, because she does not trust leadership that never sits at the front desk.

  • Carlos Marrero

    Director of Benefits, VA-Accredited Officer

    A VA-accredited service officer since 2011 who has personally filed more than 1,400 claims. Carlos trains every new officer on the same rule: read the whole file before you touch a form.

  • Janet Okoye

    Director of Housing Services

    Came out of county continuum-of-care work with a landlord contact list she still uses. Janet built our rapid rehousing program around one idea: the fastest way to house someone is to be a property manager’s easiest phone call.

  • Sam Reyes

    Director of Employment Programs

    A former corporate recruiter who got tired of watching qualified veterans screened out by keyword filters. Sam runs the employer network and the monthly job fair, and debriefs partners on every candidate they pass over.

  • Dr. Priya Anand

    Clinical Director, Licensed Psychologist

    Licensed psychologist specializing in PTSD and moral injury, with a decade in a VA medical center before joining us. Priya supervises the clinical team and keeps the warm-handoff protocol to the Veterans Crisis Line current.

  • Wayne Foster

    Lead Peer Support Specialist, U.S. Navy veteran

    Twelve years in the Navy, and four years sober when he started volunteering here. Wayne now trains every peer leader we certify and runs the Monday open group he first walked into as a participant.

  • Karen Sullivan

    Director of Community Partnerships

    Builds the landlord, employer, and civic partnerships the programs run on. Karen’s standing challenge to any partner is to name one barrier they control and remove it this quarter.

  • Mei Tanaka

    Grants and Development Manager

    Writes the grants and publishes the annual report. Mei is the reason our Form 990 goes up the same week it is filed rather than the following spring.

You served. Now let us serve you.

Reach out today. Intake is free, confidential, and there is no waitlist just to get started.

Same-week intake · Walk-ins welcome