Find out what it takes to repair one local Veteran’s home with Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity and Community Partners.
William Koraska served in the United States Navy from 1957 to November of 1974. He served as a Radio Operator and Air Intercept Controller and earned the rank of Petty Officer First Class (E-6). Mr. Koraska served four tours overseas and earned the Overseas Service Ribbon and National Defense Service Medal. Mr. and Mrs. Koraska are active in supporting Veterans Activities as members of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 32. The Koraska Family has lived at their current address for over 16 years. They live with their grand-daughter Barbara and grandson, Tyson. Over the years, the Koraska home has started to have issues causing safety concerns for the family, specifically roof and flooring issues from water leaks.
Mrs. Koraska initially reached out to the organization Veterans Empowering Veterans. She explained her concerns to the organization and set into motion a community effort to change her families’ life for the better. Veterans Empowering Veterans took charge of finding funding and labor for the repairs, ", American Legion Auxiliary Unit 32, North Carolina Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (NCCVMA) 15-1 "The All-American Chapter", The Fort Bragg Home Builders Institute (HBI), Stanley Scott, owner of Carolina Cable & Construction Company, and Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity came together and coordinated the community efforts for the home repair.
A home repair of this magnitude takes thoughtful funding. The Home Depot Foundation Repair Corp Program was able to fund a majority of the project. Along with the fundraising efforts of the North Carolina Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (NCCVMA) 15-1 "The All-American Chapter". The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through Habitat for Humanity International, provided funding for the project from the Veteran Home Repair and Modification Pilot Program (VHRMP). Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veterans Home Repair and Modification Program (VHRMP) played a role in funding the project as well. Stanley Scott played a huge part in making the repairs as affordable as possible by donating some of his labor cost. The Fort Bragg Home Builder Institute (HBI) were also instrumental in reducing a portion of the labor cost associated with the construction.
The home repairs began in early August. The community partners came together to remove the furniture from the home and start the necessary flooring repair done by Stanley Scott. Next, HBI worked on building a new ramp for the front and back entrance to the home, while also installing a new roof. By the end of August, all the repairs were complete including replacing the back double doors, replacing a new dish washer, and installing three new fire alarms donated by the American Red Cross.
The story of the Koraska home repair is an important story to be told. It is proof of the goodness in the community and the desire to serve Veterans. Without hesitation the community came together and figured out how to help this family. There was never a question of “if it was possible” but a question of “how to get it done”. Each contributing organization played a part in raising the funds and the physical labor. The Koraska home repair set into motion great partnerships between the organizations that will grow and serve many more families in the future. The focus of the work was to help the family achieve a safe and functional home, in which Mr. Koraska can move freely without concerns of safety. With that mission achieved, each community partner is thrilled to know they made an impactful difference in the life of a Veteran’s family.
