Window Interiors Helps Home At Last Build Mortgage-free Home For Disabled Vet

Two days before Christmas, Senior Project Manager Judy Ernst received a call from Winter Park Construction. There was a home in Southwest Orange County being built by the non-profit organization Home At Last for a severely disabled war veteran.

Home At Last built a mortgage-free home for Marine Sergeant Stephen Tovet (Ret) and his wife, Krystina. Sgt. Tovet had served two tours in the Middle East. He was on patrol in Afghanistan when an IED exploded and tore through his lower body – forcing the amputation of his left leg above the knee and part of his left hand.

The goal of Home At Last is to build mortgage-free, disability-friendly homes for combat-wounded veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, in appreciation for their service and sacrifice.

The dedication for the Tovets’ new home was in January, so Ernst knew she needed to rush to make sure the homes’ windows could be measured with the blinds fabricated and installed in time for the dedication on January 19. She enlisted the help of Universal Window Coverings who manufactured the blinds at a reduced cost on a rush job and then received donated time from  installer Jim Thompson and Eric Stapp to make sure that the 2-inch faux wood blinds were perfectly placed in the home before the big day.

“We are proud to play a part in helping this family that has made so many sacrifices for our country.” Ernst said. The building of one of these homes is a complete team effort between dozens of contractors and volunteers. It’s an honor to play a small part and we look forward to doing it again in the future.

Hensel Phelps and Winter Park Construction led the effort to build the soldiers home. There are now six Home at Last residences in a community in Oakland, Florida. To learn more about Home At Last or to donate to this cause, please visit their website at homeatlasthomes.org.