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Leadership Greenville ready to unveil home for veteran

Ross Norton //August 18, 2022//

Leadership Greenville ready to unveil home for veteran

Ross Norton //August 18, 2022//

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The Greenville Chamber's Leadership Greenville Program will unveil a newly renovated house on Aug. 24 that a selected local veteran will soon call home. With the help of around 60 community businesses and sponsors, the Leadership Greenville project team raised more than $85,000 to complete a full renovation of the existing home in Greenville County.

The leadership program took on the project at 16 Judson Road in partnership with Homes of Hope and Upstate Warrior Solution, according to a news release.

The Greenville Chamber's Leadership Greenville Class 48 started its "Be Hope for a Hero" project at the end of 2021. This project involved partnering with Homes of Hope and Upstate Warrior Solution, two local nonprofits, to identify a deserving veteran and provide them with a safe, affordable home, the release said. To complete a full renovation, the group originally planned to raise $65,000 but surpassed that goal, raising $85,000. The renovation included gutting the home, updating it, and putting on an addition to accommodate a larger family.

 “We couldn’t be more thrilled at this partnership and collaboration,” Don Oglesby, president and CEO of Homes of Hope, said in the release. “Hats off to the chamber, and in particular the Leadership Greenville Program (of which I am a proud alumnus — Class 34), for their help in making this a reality, and to our valued partners at Upstate Warrior Solution. Keeping affordable housing in or near the city is critical, and in this instance adding to that the importance of housing our veterans, makes this project a shining star.”

Because of the funds raised, Homes of Hope will offer a custom and affordable rental rate, based on the veteran's income, the release said. Once the veteran and family are selected for the home through Upstate Warrior Solution, Homes of Hope will work with the family to provide financial wellness training and mentorship that helps them craft their own personal map to success and achieve greater economic mobility.