Some of you may be familiar with the ‘Homes For Our Troops’ program. In short, they build custom homes, mortgage free, for our most severely wounded vets that have various disabilities. This is a non-profit organization that returns the selflessness of our wounded warriors with the selflessness of its donors and volunteers.
They had been planning this home and working with the Knob Hill Home Owners Association of Evans, Georgia for the past four months, making certain that they were in full compliance with all HOA requirements and for permits.
According to HFOTs website, they have been ordered to “cease and desist” on the planned construction of this home for SFC Sean Gittens and his family, which was scheduled to commence tomorrow.
Knob Hill Board of Directors Reverses Approval of Home for Severely Injured Veteran and Family:
“Shockingly, it appears that the Knob Hill community has decided it does not want to welcome SFC Gittens and his family, as we were previously told,” said Homes for Our Troops Founder John Gonsalves. “Despite our working closely with the Knob Hill Property Owners Association over the past four months, we find ourselves in an untenable situation. We cannot afford to add 700 square feet to the house, particularly under our special adaptive plans. And our experience in building over 100 homes dictates that severely injured veterans need a specially adapted single level home. Frankly, this late action begun by the Knob Hill Property Owners means we must suspend working on the home. The Knob Hill Property Owners Association has now assured that SFC Gittens and his family will not be able to have the home they so desperately need. We have done everything in our power to try to resolve this situation, but it appears that the community is not willing to accept this home, and SFC Gittens and his family into the community.”
I did some checking and discovered the average home price in this community is $400,000.
While I do not know, and may never know, the real reason for this sudden rejection, I do know that this is as ugly an action as I have ever seen. Had the HOA done their due diligence before giving HFOTs the go ahead, I would view this differently. As it stands, it is a slap in the face to the Gittens, our military and their families, as well as to those of us who support our troops. While I won’t go with the racism claim, I will claim the people that comprise this HOA are weak and worthless, unwilling to embrace a disabled vet in their less than charming community.
I’m certain SFC Gittens will get the home he and his family so desperately need and that good hearted people are willing to provide. Only now his home will be in a community that will accept and appreciate him and all that he has given.
Here is a short video about SFC Gittens and his family.
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Ridiculously sad, SFC Gittens has suffered seriously on the battlefield so the Knob Hill Board of Directors can keep their little clique pristine.
I’ve linked — and am outraged, especially since similar programs have provided homes to my wife’s cousins and one of my former students.
What a slap in the face for a war hero. I hope you people in Snob Hill can’t sleep a wink for the next 10 years. What kind of people are you? You are a disgrace to mankind.
There are indeed two sides to this story. As a war vet living in Knob Hill I can tell you that this was a covenants issue. Not a race issue, not a patriotism issue, it WAS a simple covenants issue. And issue that would never have made the news had this been just an ordinary couple building a home. The couple wouldve gone back to the drawing board until they had plans that were acceptable to the Home Owners Association (HOA). There would be no scandal. And the issue was NOT with Mr Gittens and his family as he’s rented a home in the subdivision for nearly a year. The issue was with Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) and their inability to follow the same rules every person (war vets included) in this neighborhood has to follow. You can choose to live in a neighborhood with covenants or can choose to live in one without them. That’s completely up to the individual. This particular neighborhood has covenants and has since its beginning many years ago. HFOT knew there were covenants when they purchased the lot. An inch think pile of paperwork is handed to you at each closing explaining at length our covenants. They purchased a lot in the “estate” section of this neighborhood in which the homes run 400,000 to 650,000. They wanted to build a 199,000 amongst these homes. Now granted, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a 199,000 home. BUT, there are specific guidlines you must follow when building in this neighborhood. (Again, you may choose not to live in a neighborhood with covenants.) As far as I’m concerned Mr Gittens deserves a house here in Knob Hill. BUT, if you purchase an “estate’ lot….build him an “estate” house. There are other lots available in the neighborhood. The HOA and HFOT spent months going back and forth over the proposed plans until finally the HOA gave in on the size of the house and asked that it be brick with a side facing garage. HFOT troops agreed. They (HOA) also gave a “conditional” approval to HFOT. The plans were acceptable but there were approximately five items still needed before they could start construction. HFOT decided to start building anyway. They began building without a full approval. The HOA discovered this and stopped the build UNTIL HFOT submitted all the proper paperwork. They didnt just STOP the build. They (the HOA) needed all the same paperwork we’ve all had to submit before they could CONTINUE to build. HFOT not wanting to play by the rules went to the media. And the media twisted this covenants issue into a “Knob Hill wont let the disabled vet build” contoversy. And that made for GREAT headlines. But, the truth is…the HOA was still trying to contact HFOT to iron out these issues while HFOT was screaming to the media that we just didn’t want the vet here. How far from the truth could that be? I’d be willing to bet 70% of this neighborhood IS military, are retired military or are associated with the military in some capacity and we’re a mixture of people….black, white, Indian, Greek, Korean. It makes no sense that we wouldnt help this man. These accusations could not be further from the truth.
Me thinks the writer is less than honest with the cost factor. There are 58 parcels built upon on Knob Hill Cir and using Columbia County tax records, 32 of those parcels are below 400,000 (55%) and 1 parcel is 237,000. I smell a polecat.
You’re looking at fair market value. Not what those houses are selling for. Let me get a little more indepth with you. Because, to be honest I absolutley despise being called a liar. I stll work for the government, I’ve hired a wounded warrior, Ive given lap tops to the wounded warrior program, I’ve started a small wounded warrior program on post, i’ve deployed 8 times, while you’re reading this I’m preparing to deploy yet again. And NO, I dont need to tell you what I’ve done. But, I have a point to make. Now, with all this knowledge Ive just given you…..dont you think I’d be raising hell if SFC Gittens was wronged in anyway??? I’d be on every news channel! Hell, I was pissed too until I got the WHOLE story. Now seriously, think about it! Wouldnt all these vets in Knob Hill be gathering the troops?? Wouldnt Ft Gordon be involved if what the media says is true? They were contacted! HFOT doesnt have a leg to stand on! Ft Gordon officials dont want any part of it! I LIVE in this neighborhood!! I know exactly what took place. I’m not armchair quarterbacking from Texas. And while we’re at it, Columbia County has a sign posted on the lot stopping construction because HFOT didnt follow their rules EITHER! Need a pic for proof?? You smell a polecat? I smell an uninformed ass who could careless what the truth is! But hey, freedom of speech….I fought for it!