First house in Polacek Veteran Home Initiative to be built on Somerset Street in Johnstown
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A hand-picked local military veteran will soon own a brand-new, free, 1,000-square-foot, three-bedroom house with a deck overlooking the Stonycreek River on Somerset Street in Johnstown.
It will be gifted to the person through the Polacek Veteran Home Initiative, a Vision Together 2025 capture team.
Details about the program were provided during a press conference Tuesday at 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown.
'This is much more than just a house to a deserving veteran,' JWF Industries CEO and Chairman Bill Polacek said. 'It will give them hope. And it's also revitalizing our community. This is the beginning of what could be a wave of things to help our community build itself.'
Polacek said the goal is to give 'a hand up, not a handout' to the veteran and family.
The plan calls for starting with one home, but Polacek hopes that as many as eight or so could be built in the area as part of a 'veterans row.'
'My hope and prayer is that we are guided by our faith and come together to help not just build one of these, but, as I said, many of them,' Polacek said.
Details about the application and selection processes are available at 1stsummitarena.com/polacek-veteran-family-home.
The ideal recipient will be an honorably discharged veteran with high achievements who has sacrificed and who may hold a Department of Veterans Affairs rating. Applicants with dependents, a proven record of serving the community, a history of good credit but unable to purchase a home because of a poor income-to-debt ratio, and a willingness to give back are also preferred.
Veterans living in Cambria and Somerset counties are eligible.
A DD214 certificate of discharge must be provided.
Applications can be submitted until May 11. Evaluations and interviews will take place. A veteran community panel will make the final selection.
The recipient will be notified May 24.
'The most important aspect of this is to find the right veteran and their family because we have thousands in the two counties that we'll be looking at,' said retired U.S. Army Col. Jeff Pounding, who is involved in the process. 'The idea is to assist a veteran and their family with financial stability and quality of life. We want these people to move into this new home – custom-designed for them – and allow them to grow as long as they want and to help shape their kids through this home and this quality of life.'
A home build is expected to take place in July.
The project is being supported by the Polacek family, Vision Together 2025 and several veterans groups.
Organizers are looking for volunteers to help with the construction.
The veteran, if physically able, and family members will assist in the work, too.
'If this does happen the way we expect it to happen and these folks will be involved, it's going to get done because there will be people like all of you (here at this press conference) that will show up to help,' said Norman Ed, a local volunteer builder. 'Just keep your ears open to that. That's really why I'm here. I'm just one of the volunteers.'
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