Every U.S. veteran deserves a decent and affordable place to live, but not every veteran has access to affordable housing. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition Veteran Report, more than 1.5 million U.S. veteran households pay more than 50% of their income on housing, leaving them severely cost-burdened.
Greg, a U.S. Army Veteran, is striving toward his dream of owning his first home. Working full-time as a security guard, he still protects and defends others daily. However, renting and living with a roommate for seven years is not his ideal housing situation.
“At times, I feel I have no privacy,” Greg shared about his current living situation. “After years of paying rent and having nothing to show for it, it takes a toll on hard-working people.”
Greg thought he might qualify for a VA Home Loan, but with Lee County’s housing market and interest rates skyrocketing, it became clear that homeownership would still be unattainable for him. But Greg didn’t give up. When he heard about Habitat’s Affordable Homeownership Program through his employer, he took the necessary steps to apply.
“This program matched me perfectly, and [Habitat] was a blessing in disguise to help me because they went by my income and met me at the same level I’m coming from,” Greg said about his experience with the program thus far. “It’s not that you’re even asking for help; you’re giving back as well.”
Greg has already begun working on his required 300 sweat equity hours by building walls at the Warehouse and helping at the Bonita ReStore. He is eager to complete the program, which includes participating in building his home, finishing his homeowner education classes and officially signing his mortgage documents.
“A home to call my own will be a safe haven, a comfort zone, and a place to build memories, as well as a way to build future wealth,” Greg explained. “Owning a home is like paying yourself. It’s investing in yourself.”
Greg is a partner with our inaugural 2023 Veterans Build campaign. Through this initiative, we partner with volunteers, sponsors and community organizations to build a home alongside a veteran who proudly served our country.
