Last week, RCS reported that the Build Brigade was underway for SFC Sean Gittens. The specially adapted home is being built by the non-profit organization ‘Homes for Our Troops’. Today, I received a disturbing email from HFOT notifying me of the cancellation of the Build Brigade already set for this weekend:
“Dear Supporters,
It is with great sadness that I writeto inform you that the Build Brigade scheduled for June24th at Knob Hill for SFC Sean Gittens and his family has been cancelled. Despite initial approval from the Knob HillHome Owners Association and the requisite permits,HOA President Rick Trump has informed usthe Knob Hill Board of Directors initiated the issuance of a cease and desist order on our plans and decided they do not want HFOT to build our home for the Gittens family in their community. The reason cited wasthey feel the home will decrease homeowner property values.You should know that our home meets the size criteriain their property guidelines.Over the past few months, we have worked very closely to modify our home plan to meet requirements the HOA requested, and we hoped they would act in good faith once we met their conditions. This is the first time throughout the entire United States that a community has not welcomed a Homes for Our Troops home for a severely injured veteran. However shocking this is,I can assure you that the Knob Hill Home Owners Association is not representative of the way most Americans feel about wounded veterans. It appears that we must now move ahead to find another location,and a community who will be supportive and welcome this military family into their neighborhood. We ask all of our supporters to remain committed to this family as we move forward to making their dream come true.”
Thank you,
John Gonsalves
It would appear that the homeowners in Knob Hill do not want SFC Sean Gittens, Iraqi War veteran, in their community. Additionally, possbly, just possibly, as a disabled person, his civil rights may have been violated. However, the Board of Directors for Knob Hill issued a response denying these allegations:
‘As your Board of Directors, we want to advise you of an ongoing situation involving the Homes For Our Troops organization.
A veteran and his family, currently living in Knob Hill, are waiting for a home to be constructed on Knob Hill Circle. We have been discussing proposed plans with HFOT, but we still have not received plans consistent with your neighborhood covenants. HFOT has issued a press release that has led to negative comments about our neighborhood. We want to ensure you that we are considering both your interests and the interests of the veteran as we continue negotiations with HFOT.
Please understand that any suggestion that this Board of Directors does not welcome this deserving family into our neighborhood could not be further than the truth. Many of the board members are veterans themselves and many neighbors have expressed interest in this project. This is simply ensuring this deserving family receives the home consistent with the neighborhood covenants (and that they very much deserve)
We regret the negative comments and will continue to update you as appropriate.’
Sincerely,
Knob Hill Board of Directors
Story developing…you know that Red Carpet Shelley will keep you in the loop on this one!
