Help a Canadian Veteran Build a Home

Hi, my name is Adam, and I'm asking for help to achieve something many people dream of—a home to call my own. I proudly served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 15 years, including a deployment to Afghanistan with Task Force 3-09. During that deployment I sustained physical injuries and was later diagnosed with moderate to severe PTSD. While my military service gave me lifelong friendships and a sense of purpose, it also left me facing challenges that have followed me into civilian life. After my release from the military in 2014, my injuries made it impossible to work. As a reservist without a contract, I went nearly two years without stable employment or income and survived by using my savings, credit cards, and a line of credit. I eventually accumulated significant debt simply trying to get by. Over the past several years, I've worked hard to rebuild my financial life. I've reduced my line of credit from $80,000 to approximately $27,000 by putting virtually every extra dollar I could toward my debt. I've also worked diligently to save for a future home through a First Home Savings Account and RRSPs. As I began preparing to purchase our first home, I caught up on my taxes and discovered something I never expected. Due to the severity of my injuries both mental and physical, I fell behind in filing taxes. I caught up and got an accountant to help me get everything caught up. It was at this time that I discovered that the different government bodies that provide my disability income decided not to talk to each other and were not taking enough money to cover the taxes that I owe. It came as a shock to see that some years I owed more in interest and penalties than the actual taxes I owed. Because insufficient tax had been withheld from my disability and government benefits over several years, I now owe approximately $61,000 CAD to the Canada Revenue Agency. I applied for relief from penalties and interest, but my request was denied. This debt has become the final obstacle standing between my family and home ownership. Five years ago, I married my wonderful wife, Sharon. She has been an incredible source of strength and support throughout my recovery from PTSD. She recently became a permanent resident of Canada after moving here from Malaysia, and together we've been working toward building a stable future in Edmonton. We also have two dogs who are very much part of our family. We've done everything we can to prepare responsibly for buying our first home. We've saved, budgeted, paid down debt, and planned carefully. Unfortunately, this CRA debt prevents us from qualifying for a mortgage, despite all of our efforts. I'm not looking for someone else to solve my life for me. I'm asking for a hand up that will allow me to finish what I've already been working toward. Every dollar donated will go directly toward paying down my CRA debt so that my wife and I can finally qualify to purchase a modest home and begin building equity instead of continuing to rent. Having a permanent place to call home would provide stability, security, and peace of mind after years of uncertainty. It would mean more than just owning a house—it would mean finally being able to build the future my wife and I have worked so hard for. Whether you're able to donate or simply share this fundraiser, your kindness and support mean more than I can express. Thank you for taking the time to read my story, for supporting Canadian veterans, and for helping my family move one step closer to a place we can truly call home. With sincere gratitude, Adam