North Carolina Town Building Free Homes for Veterans

Building Homes for Heroes

Mooresville, North Carolina, a Charlotte suburb, is developing a plan to provide 14 free homes to veterans. 

The town has formed a partnership with home supply retail giant Lowe’s, along with Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit from Island Park, New York, to build a small village of houses, according to Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney. 

The homes will be built throughout 2026 on four and a half acres owned by Mooresville. Fittingly, the houses will pop up along North Maple Street, across from the War Memorial Recreation Center. Carney unveiled plans for the village to a group of about 75 veterans at the Welcome Home Veterans Military Museum at Richard’s Coffee Shop in Mooresville. He was joined by Andy Pujol, who created Building Homes for Heroes. 

“We love our soldiers, we love our veterans, and we want to treat them with pride and appreciation,” Pujol told The Charlotte Observer as he walked along the site where developers plan to build the houses. “But we also want to treat them better.” 

Pujol was part of the search and rescue team after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City. He arrived at Ground Zero the day following the attacks, serving on a bucket brigade to help clear away wreckage from the World Trade Center, searching for survivors and those who weren’t as fortunate. 

Years later, Pujol was stricken with cancer. His doctors think the cancer came from the toxins he was exposed to at Ground Zero. 

A Fitting Tribute 

Carney believes the location of the veteran village couldn’t be better.  

The houses will be short walking distance to Liberty Park, a six-acre area featuring markers honoring veterans. 

In North Carolina, state law prohibits municipalities from giving away government property. However, Mooresville was able to work with state legislators on a local bill, as long as the property would be used to help veterans. Carney, a former North Carolina state senator, said the bill was approved rather quickly and could serve as an example for other state municipalities that wish to build a similar project. 

Also, with Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune in close proximity, building a veteran housing area in Mooresville could help many veterans, the mayor said. 

Over 400 Homes and Growing 

David Weingrad, Director of Communications with Building Homes for Heroes, said the organization has provided more than 440 houses, new and renovated, for veterans across 36 states. Nine have already been built in North Carolina. 

“Those with the greatest need, because of injuries both physical and mental, suffered during their service, are the likeliest to receive homes,” Weingrad said, noting that one of the program’s stipulations is that the veteran can’t already own a home. 

Weingrad credited Lowe’s for pitching in, donating several million dollars to Building Homes for Heroes and providing additional investment from its Round Up for Charity program, where customers round up their shopping bill to the nearest dollar with the extra change going to charitable causes.  

Veterans can apply for a home on the Building Homes for Heroes website. Building Homes for Heroes also provides housing for Gold Star Families and first responders. The organization’s site also features information on how to donate to the program. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs also has programs available to assist disabled veterans with home building and renovations. 

Seeing 14 more homes being built for veterans in need couldn’t have happened without everyone coming together, the town of Mooresville, North Carolina state government, Building Homes for Heroes, and Lowe’s, Weingrad said. 

“It’s because of Lowe’s generosity that we’re able to achieve this amazing milestone,” he said. 

On Veterans Day, according to The Charlotte Observer, Mooresville will officially announce plans for the housing village with a downtown celebration. 

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