Community fundraising campaign to build a home for a veteran

Habitat For Humanity and the Lockerby Legion in Sudbury are working together to raise $450,000 to build a home for a veteran.

Habitat For Humanity is teaming up with the Lockerby Legion in Sudbury to raise money to build a home for a veteran. The goal is to raise just more than $450,000 with the help of the community.

“That’s our primary goal, (to) find those members of our community who have a desire or a want to support that veteran community,” said Daryl Adams, Veteran Project honorary chair.

“We know you don’t have to go too far to find out someone has an aunt, uncle, sister, grandmother, grandfather who fought or served in the military. So, there is that linkage in Canada -- it’s deeply rooted in our history.”

On Thursday, the Lockerby Legion presented cheques totalling more than $10,000 towards the Habitat For Humanity Gateway North Veteran Project.

Greater Sudbury sold land where the house for a veteran will be built to the not-for-profit organization for $5.

Habitat mortgage model

“This is to develop a homeownership opportunity through the Habitat mortgage model of zero down payment, zero interest, so that we can offer a home for a veteran or veteran family in Sudbury,” said Michael Cullen, Habitat For Humanity Gateway North director of community partnerships.

“(We’re working) in support of the Lockerby Legion to get a home built for a veteran -- a well-deserving veteran.”

The land is on Melvin Street in the Donovan, where an affordable, accessible single-family home will be built. There will be a selection process to determine the veteran who will receive the home.

“The selection process is a Habitat standard,” Cullen said.

“It’s a third-party removed, non-biased process that has a veteran family or individual that will qualify for the Habitat mortgage. There is a credit process, there is a whole background check.”

Officials with Habitat for Humanity said the initiative, Building Futures in Sudbury, represents the non-profit’s ongoing commitment to serving those who serve others. Donations can be made online, dropped off at the ReStore on Armstrong Street or the Lockerby Legion.