Future Habitat homeowner Osvaldo and his wife stand ready to build their new home during a morning wall raising.
For U.S. Army Veteran Osvaldo, the journey to homeownership began to feel real at his Oct. 26 wall raising. That day, Osvaldo worked shoulder to shoulder with loved ones, Habitat for Humanity staff, supporters, and even some who started the day as strangers to him.
A day of service and dedication
Osvaldo has led a life dedicated to service- first serving seven and a half years in the military and now as a Fort Myers Police Officer. For him, seeing others come together to help build his family’s future home evoked feelings of deep gratitude. “I’m grateful,” Osvaldo said at his wall raising. “I feel like the same effort I give to the community; I’m getting back.”
Building a better future
Currently, Osvaldo, his wife, and their two-year-old daughter share one bedroom in his parents’ home. While he is grateful to his parents, Osvaldo dreams of giving his family a space of their own. “I just need for them to have their own room, especially for my daughter,” Osvaldo said. His daughter turned two right before their wall raising, giving the day an added layer of meaning. As he helped build his home from the ground-up, he thought of the future. “My daughter will grow up here,” Osvaldo said.
A community effort
Osvaldo’s wall raising was a testament to the power of community coming together to make a dream reality. Among the many individuals who made this possible was Jeff Summerour, CEO of Beacon Point Associates. As a Navy veteran with a deep commitment to his fellow veterans, Summerour was instrumental in bringing Habitat’s first Veterans Build to life in 2023. “I just appreciate being able to help support a little bit of what Habitat does,” he said. “They do so much across the community, well beyond the veterans, but to have the veterans included is wonderful.”
A look to the future
What once seemed like an unattainable dream is now within reach, thanks to Habitat for Humanity and the community’s support. As construction progresses, Osvaldo and his family move closer to move-in day. “You can start from the bottom and one day you can end up doing the same I’m doing today,” Osvaldo said pointing to the foundation of what will be his family’s home.
