Aeren Martinez retired as an officer from the Army in 2000 after a 26-year career. She began her next life by volunteering at Bethlehem Haven of Pittsburgh and a short lived retirement was replaced by working for them for the next five years as development assistant and network administrator. In 2005 she moved to DC to live and volunteer in an egalitarian Christian community house offering refuge to torture survivors seeking asylum in the United States. She wanted to continue to help homeless people and in February 2006 she joined the CCHFP staff as Development Director for Individual Giving.

Aeren says she has personal motivation for working to end homelessness..."As a child my parents went bankrupt and we lost our home. We were essentially homeless and through the kindness of family we survived that trauma. I've never forgotten that and always wanted to give back because I've been so blessed."

Aeren also says she's a "fair weather cyclist" and can often be seen riding her bicycle from Takoma to Teneleytown and back on good biking days.