Homes For Our Troops donates adapted, mortgage-free home in Milton to Marine vet
MILTON, Fla — A Milton veteran moved into his specially adapted home, mortgage and tax-free, on Saturday.
Homes For Our Troops builds and donates custom homes to veterans who were severely injured in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11.
The building process for retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant (GYSGT) David Post’s home started in November.
He described the move-in day as life-changing.
“This will make a complete lifestyle change difference for me,” the home recipient GySgt (USMC retired) David Post said.
Injured Marine veteran David Post was welcomed into his specially adapted, custom home Saturday morning.
He was severely injured in Afghanistan when he stepped on an explosive device.
“It’s a lump sum of so much passion and monetary value that is just kind of hard to wrap your head around,” Post said.
The home has 40 ADA special adaptations for wheelchair access — including wider halls, pull-down shelving, and roll-under sinks.
“Not only being able to access everything that’s in the house and to function inside my own home but also the financial freedom that it gives without a mortgage,” Post said. “It allows me to focus on my next career move without having to worry about also trying to pull in income during that.”
Post has no mortgage or state taxes to pay on the home.
Krystina goroshko // senior community engagement coordinator, homes for our troops
“This home is completely mortgage-free to our veteran,” senior community engagement coordinator for Homes For Our Troops Krystina Goroshko said. “All that they would have to take care of would be state taxes, but luckily in the state of Florida, if you’re 100% deemed disabled, then you are 100% free from taxes in this state.”
All Post had to do was fill out an application and pick the location. A process he said he started reluctantly.
“A lot of veterans are reluctant to come forward and ask for any type of help, but this isn’t asking for help,” Post said. “This is just sharing part of your life with an organization that wants to give back. So put that pride to the side and just go ahead and fill out the application.”
Homes for Our Troops has built more than 435 homes for injured veterans.
“This is just a small way to say thank you to everything that they have fought for and given up for our freedoms,” Goroshko said.
Goroshko says the best part is seeing the community welcome veterans like Post home.
“If you can just get out and welcome these veterans into your communities, they’ve done enough downrange that coming home should be a place of respite, and community is a huge part of that,” Goroshko said. “Make sure that they feel loved and welcomed; just wrap your arms around these amazing men and women because this is their forever home, and they’ve chosen to live here with you.”
Homes For Our Troops has more than 70 projects ongoing right now.
They’ve built homes in 45 states.