(Rendering Caption: Rendering donated by artist Jim Hansen depicts the 2010 Home at Last residence of Sergeant Major Patrick Corcoran and his family being built in Oakland, Florida.)
Designed to meet the needs of this year’s recipient, Sergeant Major Patrick Corcoran a paraplegic wounded by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in August 2009 and his family, the one-level home is entirely handicapped accessible.
The painted stucco façade and shingle roof of the modern-style ranch features outlets, switches and thermostats that accommodate a person in a seated position. Hallways are four-feet wide and doors are 36-inches wide for easy wheelchair access throughout the residence. Level changes are ramped including ingress and egress points.
The master bath has a roll-in shower, and the floor plan includes an exercise/rehabilitation room to allow SGM Corcoran to continue rehabilitation. Accessible elements in the kitchen and laundry room accommodate both disabled and able-bodied family members.
Pro bono design and general contracting services are provided by Winter Park Design, Winter Park Construction, Hensel Phelps Construction Company and A.D. Owens Construction Corp. Subcontractor labor and materials are currently being sought to meet the goal of providing this $300,000 home to the Corcoran family without a mortgage.
A groundbreaking will be held in late August to kick-off construction. The home is planned for completion in early 2011.
SGM Corcoran of the 10th Mountain Division 2/87 Infantry Battalion was wounded on August 13, 2009 when a 500 pound improvised explosive device exploded along a paved road in the Wardak province, Afghanistan.
He sustained brain and neck injuries, two broken legs and a broken ankle, a broken pelvis, torn knee ligaments, broken scapula, torn rotator cuff, and a piece of shrapnel tore through his back causing a vertebrae burst fracture with 90% spinal cord compromise that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
The 23-year veteran is the recipient of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge and more. SGM Corcoran’s family includes his wife Becky and two sons.
Home at Last was founded as a special project of the West Orange Habitat for Humanity organization in late 2007. The non-profit is committed to building at least one home each year mortgage-free for a combat wounded, disabled veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The organization built a home in 2008 and 2009.
The 2010 home is underway. All homes are built entirely on donations and in-kind contributions of construction labor and materials. Home at Last’s founder, Bill Criswell, was recently honored by Major League Baseball and PEOPLE magazine as one of only 30 winners nationwide as an All-Star Among Us for his work with Home at Last. Please visit www.habitathomeatlast.org to donate or for more information about Home at Last.
West Orange Habitat for Humanity, a recognized affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, was founded in 1990 at Oakland Presbyterian Church. The goal of Habitat for Humanity is to bring families and communities in need together with volunteers and resources to build simple decent and affordable homes.
PR contact: Elaine Ingra, PR WORKS, 407 348-1344, elainei@pr-works.com
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