CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Before this week, Clay County veteran Joe Gainers felt as if he was trapped in his own home. Thanks to Clay County's Habitat for Humanity and other sponsors, the 68-year-old can now live comfortably.
Gainers explained how he felt after receiving a key to his newly remodeled home.
"I am very surprised. I was looking for a porch and they gave me a new house," Gainers told News4Jax's Fernanda Ponce.
Demolition started several months ago. Gainers received three Purple Hearts during his three-year tour with the National Guard. Volunteers said they were moved by his service.
Gainers was happy to be back in his childhood home.
"This house is five generations of my family, and Habitat and the community and banks and everything, they are refurnishing my house and giving me a better place to live," he said. "I thank them very much for doing things that I couldn't do myself."
The home was built in 1949 and was in deplorable condition.
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"I was remembering the first time that I met him, walking into this house and things just literally, the roof falling down, the ceiling inside caving in, not having a restroom that he could go to and actually use because the plumbing was so inadequate." Edwards said.
The condition of the home made it hard for Gainers to get around on his scooter.
"My grandmother, great grandmother, mother -- they worked hard to build this house back when it was nothing but woods here and now it's building up now," Gainers said.
Gainers can now enjoy his new porch safely and also keep his childhood memories alive forever.