Thanks to the Building for America’s Bravest program, part of the non-profit Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, two years later Nicely was able to move into a custom-designed home that was built for him free of charge and specially adapted with smart technology to meet his unique needs. For instance, the light switches, handles, faucets and knobs in the home are all easier to operate because they are larger than normal and can be turned on and off with a simple tap. “This house gives me my independence back so I don’t have to rely on anybody else to take care of me,” says Nicely, of Lake Ozark, Missouri. “This house makes it possible for me to take care of myself again. I’m grateful that somebody was able to step up and build me a home like this.”
Since 2011, the Building for America’s Bravest program has completed or broken ground on 47 similarly custom-designed and technologically advanced homes for severely injured veterans across the country. They are all mortgage-free.