Veterans Build: Habitat for Humanity, volunteers raise walls of local veteran's future home
The Floridant/10287738

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Floridant -- Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties is helping a local U.S. Army veteran achieve his dream of homeownership through its second annual Veterans Build program.

Osvaldo, who now serves as a police officer in Fort Myers, is one of many veterans facing housing challenges after transitioning from the military to civilian life. Currently, he shares a single bedroom in his parent's house with his wife and their 2-year-old daughter and rents a storage unit for additional space to keep his family's belongings. Several of Osvaldo's family members, including his parents, have also become homeowners through Habitat.

On Oct. 26, Habitat volunteers, sponsors and fellow veterans assisted Osvaldo in building and raising the exterior walls of his future home in Lehigh Acres. The single-family home will feature three bedrooms and two bathrooms once complete.

"Housing is probably the most stressful situation for me right now," Osvaldo said. "I'm 32, and honestly, providing my family with the space they need will be one of the greatest achievements in my life so far."

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Osvaldo is originally from Mexico, where his two older brothers served in the military. After moving to the United States, he decided to join the U.S. Army. Osvaldo will be the second veteran to have his home built through Habitat's Veterans Build program, which started in 2023.

Habitat's Veterans Build program aims to partner with local veterans to provide decent housing, an affordable mortgage and the skills to succeed. Osvaldo will complete 300 hours of sweat equity, more than 20 hours of homeownership and financial literacy classes, and will pay $2,000 for the closing costs of his home through Habitat's Affordable Homeownership Program.

"As we raise the walls of Osvaldo's future home, we also build a foundation of hope and opportunity for him and his family," said Elisha Baird, VP of Resource and Development for Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties. "Through our Veterans Build program, Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to addressing the unique housing challenges faced by those who have served. We are honored to partner with veterans like Osvaldo as we help them achieve the stability they deserve."

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The Veterans Build initiative opens the door for partnerships with sponsors, individual donors, community organizations and volunteers to build homes with veterans to help them achieve their dreams of homeownership.

For more information or to become a sponsor, visit Habitat4Humanity.org/Veterans-Build (https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.LMdXjQvZ1EPt1gvkZCgHMcSQDS1oic-2F76y3bE6NA51TFtN6Gr6rIWAunD0DVJT4pLJszy9UEe8XDTqMWaGy4vA-3D-3D0fkg_qqnzJJVfxHIRzYO-2F1dHrJHuoqAKOnoDw5eX83Ltl21rGnAMiCywTwsNOQod0GJZs1wHFwP1oTRwn1lyaLOAse0B-2FDi...).