WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - Martin Cole comes from a long line of family with military ties. Cole served in the Marines from 1977-1982.

"I wanted to do something for my country other than just take up space," Cole said. 

After leaving the service, he lived a good life until about two and half years ago.

"I got put in jail and lost my apartment and everything," Cole said.

Cole turned to the non-profit Passageways.

"This is gonna help me get on back on my feet more stably than if I hadn't tried to do it on my own."

Passageways was co-founded by Jennifer Garrison 8 years ago to help male homeless veterans.

"And so, we have provided a home where they get to come stay," Garrison said. "All of services are free."

Just having a roof over their head has been invaluable to these veterans to get back on their feet.

Garrison says they now want to expand that to female veterans. 

"A lot of the females do address some different issues that the males don't.”

The group is fundraising to open a home for women veterans similar to what the program has now. Garrison says with the way the housing market is right now, passageways need about 400 thousand dollars to secure a location.

Right now, they have 60,000. 

"We want to make sure we have security in place for these females, and an absolutely everything set to go," said Garrison.