Retired Army Chief Warrant Officer Steve Smith has carried a lot since 2003, when a parachute accident in Kuwait left him with permanent paralysis in his hand and multiple other conditions. Today he’s battling leukemia. So when he and his wife, Jenifer, were handed the keys to a brand-new, mortgage-free home in Richmond Hill, Georgia, his comparison made perfect sense: it was like scratching off a lottery ticket and winning.
The home wasn’t just given, it was designed. Built through Building Homes for Heroes and PulteGroup’s Built to Honor program, the custom three-bedroom house features zero-entry doorways, a roll-in shower, and full main-level living so Smith can focus on recovery instead of stairs. It came fully furnished and move-in ready during an emotional ceremony that included U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter presenting an American flag flown over the U.S. House. For the Smiths, the gift means stability and a location within driving distance of family in Virginia and Florida.
Smith has been candid about the emotional weight of his injuries, saying it was a mental blow because you feel like you can no longer be who you were. This home is a community’s answer to that feeling. Know a veteran in the Suncoast area who deserves a similar hand? Tell us about them in the comments.
