Committee Selecting Six Veterans to Receive Homes This Year

Returning veteran Omar Domenech held back tears as he thanked Long Island Home Builders Care and everyone involved for helping get he and his family a home in Sound Beach back in 2011.

That was the first of two homes provided for veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan by LIHBC, and the group plans to build six homes this year.

Rocky Point VFW Post 6249 commander Joe Cognitore is on the selection committee of veterans that speaks with applicants. Cognitore helped get the idea together a few years ago with then assemblyman Marc Alessi.

"At that time when the guys were coming back they were renovating homes," Cognitore said. "I mentioned that instead of renovating homes where their parents are why don’t we try to get a home on their own, that way they’re independent.

"It’s evolved to helping provide homes for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, set up through Mark Baisch, part of home builders cares."

The group is currently accepting applications for a home in the six-lot subdivision in Islandia. Applicants are asked to write a letter explaining the impact this would have on their lives that includes military service history, present living status and employment status. Letters should be mailed to Lois Fricke, LIHBCDC 1757-8 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Islandia, NY 11749.