Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter Florida officials signed a contract Monday for an option to buy land in downtown Leesburg for a veterans’ village, contingent on Habitat being able to secure approval and raise funds for the estimated $3.4 million project.
The option is for $275,000 for a little over two acres at the corner of Canal and Cleveland streets, behind The Daily Commercial , where Habitat wants to build efficiency 1-bedroom, duplex-style homes for 14 to 20 military veterans.
“This is a vision of a place for veterans to live within a community, with services and opportunities close by,” Kent Adcock, president and chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter, said of the first ever “Veterans Pocket Neighborhood” project that would allow veterans in need of sustainable housing to live within walking distance of agencies that provide veteran services. This includes the VA Outpatient Clinic, LifeStream Behavioral Services, and places for veterans to worship, work and transition back into civilian life.