Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit organization committed to building homes for those in need, hopes to break ground on a special project in Leesburg, Florida.
According to the Daily Commercial, the group's Lake-Sumter, Florida, branch is currently attempting to gain support, permission and funds for the $3.4 million sustainable housing community exclusively for veterans. The village would contain enough one-bedroom duplexes to house between 14 and 20 former servicemembers.
The location was chosen for its ample land, as well as its walking-distance proximity to important resources for veterans in their life after service. Some of the nearby institutions include LifeStream Behavioral Services, the Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, places of worship and veteran-friendly employers.
At a gala fundraiser held for the branch's 25th anniversary, Kent Adcock, president and chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter, encouraged attendees to donate to the first-ever "Veterans Pocket Neighborhood." He noted that millions of veteran households pay between 30 and 50 percent of their income for housing, and that increasing numbers of post-9/11 veterans are experiencing crippling unemployment rates in their life after service. He believes that offering even marginal help with housing will make a huge impact, noted the Daily Commercial.
"It's not going to happen overnight, but we know that if we work together, we can provide sustainable housing solutions for those who are in need in our veteran community, those who have done so much for us," he stated at the event.