“Our house has been life-changing”
For U.S. Navy Veteran Joe Clark, having a place to call home means everything.
Joe, now 79, enlisted in the Navy at 18 during the Vietnam War. It was during his time in the Navy that he met Marie, now 77. Their first meeting at a café sparked something special, and today, they have been married for 61 years.
Joe and Marie spent 17 years as missionaries in Mexico, where they served unwed mothers and children without parents. During that time, a five-week-old baby girl was left on their doorstep. They welcomed her into their family, named her Rebecca, and raised her as their daughter.
For six years, Joe and Marie lived in an RV. As Joe got older, using the steps became increasingly difficult and unsafe. They eventually moved into an enclosed back porch at Rebecca’s home, where the 200-square-foot space was tight for two people.
Finding a rental they could afford was difficult. Then, the Clarks moved into their 750-square-foot Habitat cottage.
Today, Joe and Marie share their home with Rebecca, 28, and their two dogs. For Joe, the difference has been life-changing.
“I’ve told my wife 20 times in the last month how much I love the house.”
The new home is the perfect size for their family and gives Joe a place where he no longer has to navigate the difficult steps he once faced every day. It gives the entire family greater comfort and peace of mind.
For Joe and Marie, their Habitat home is more than a place to live today. It also gives Rebecca a place to call home for years to come, creating a lasting foundation for their family’s future.
Joe’s story is one example of what housing stability can mean for a local Veteran and the family he loves.
The Veterans Housing Initiative is our way of saying thank you to those who’ve served. Through this program, local Veterans receive critical home repairs, housing opportunities, and the support of a caring community.
Last year, we completed 9 Veteran home repair projects and 1 Veteran homeownership opportunity, helping 18 Veterans and Veteran family members experience greater safety, comfort and peace of mind in their homes.
This Veterans Day, we remember that a home is more than walls and a roof. It is safety, dignity, security, and a place to call home.
You can make a difference in the lives of Veterans just like Joe. Your support today can mean a lifetime of stability for those who have served us all.
This November, we need community partners like you to help Veterans find and maintain housing that meets their needs. You can be part of Habitat Lake-Sumter’s mission to provide safe, decent, affordable housing solutions to Veterans across Lake and Sumter counties.
We invite you to support local Veterans by making a gift and helping provide safe, decent, affordable housing solutions for those who have served our country.
