U.S. Navy Veteran Denise Coates Awarded Mortgage-Free Home By ServiceSource Florida
By Frank De Lucia, ServiceSource Florida // November 8, 2018
ServiceSource donates fourth condominium renovated by Home Depot volunteers
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – ServiceSource Florida―a leading provider of employment and housing services to Floridians and veterans with disabilities―donated a mortgage-free home at Crestview Villas to U.S. NAVY veteran Denise Coates on October 31.
Crestview Villas provides low-income housing at below-market rates to veterans and others with disabilities. In honor of Veterans Day for each of the past three years, ServiceSource has donated one of its condominiums that Home Depot renovated to an honorably discharged veteran.
This year is no exception, but it will be a condominium that’s been rendered totally ADA-compliant, handicapped-accessible, and barrier-free, thanks to grants totaling $50,000 from The Home Depot Foundations and Raymond James Financial.
That’s welcome news for Coates, a 65-year-old, six-year veteran with a 40% VA service-connected disability rating who served as a radioman on the USS Samuel Gompers during the Lebanon/Grenada era.
Severe asthma, foot injuries, and fallen arches have relegated her to life in a manual wheelchair, which significantly restricts her ability to move about and perform routine activities of daily living.
“Featuring Universal Design concepts, these improvements will allow Denise to access her entire condo and age-in-place independently, comfortably, and with dignity,” said ServiceSource vice president of program development Frank De Lucia.
On hand to present Coates with the keys to the condo will be Home Depot Titusville store manager Natalie Glywasky, under whose leadership The Home Depot Foundation and Team Depot volunteers from North Melbourne, Palm Bay, Merritt Island and Titusville stores have renovated 13 Crestview housing units.
“I’m delighted to represent Home Depot for the fourth consecutive year,” said Glywasky. “It’s so rewarding to partner with ServiceSource to ensure that veterans have safe, secure places to call home.
The ceremony will include the Presentation of Colors for the National Anthem by the Patrick Air Force Base Color Guard, keynote address from Patrick Gavin, District Director for U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, ribbon-cutting, and remarks from Coates.
Related Story:SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Brevard Veterans Memorial Center Features Dedicated Army of Volunteers
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