Injured Veterans Get Tailored-Made Houses and a Chance to Start Anew

A nonprofit provides safe and functional homes for disabled veterans. The opportunity also brings unexpected changes to their lives.

Tyson Cole, an injured veteran, and his family, pictured with David Belman (R), who helped build an adaptive home to accommodate the veteran's needs. Courtesy of Operation Finally Home

In 2012, Tyson Cole, a retired Army veteran and Bronze Star Medal recipient, had no choice but to leave the military on medical disability. A few years prior, a mortar attack in Baghdad threw his body head-first into a cement bunker. What doctors first thought was a minor head injury became a debilitating problem that eventually ended his career. Severe panic attacks, memory loss, migraines, and reading comprehension issues led to a diagnosis of PTSD and traumatic brain injury. “My dream job was serving in the Army. I had no plans to leave the military because I was doing what I loved,” Cole said.

The Cole family at the ground-breaking ceremony for their adaptive home. Courtesy of Operation Finally Home

Prayers Answered

While receiving treatment at a veterans clinic in 2017, Cole met a nurse who mentioned Operation Finally Home (OPFH). To date, the nonprofit has built 340 homes in more than 33 states for wounded, ill, and injured military veterans and first responders, and their families. Thanks to private donations and partnerships with corporate sponsors and builders, they can live in new, mortgage-free homes.

Seeking the blessing of a new home, Cole immediately applied. He and his family were at their wits’ end. If OPFH didn’t work out, they would be homeless. The Coles prayed every day for a solution. Soon, the answer came: OPFH had accepted Cole’s application.

A contractor and second-generation builder in the greater Milwaukee area, David Belman, signed on to the project. It was his sixth home for OPFH.

The program’s success depends on fundraising and donations of labor and materials. “It is an investment of time, but it is an amazing experience for these great families in need,” Belman said. “It’s so worthwhile. We were put on the planet to help people, so it is very rewarding to be a part of it.”

His company of eight full-time employees typically builds a home with adaptations tailored to the veterans’ individual needs. Homes might include wider doors with a flush entry at the front door or garages. Some have roll-in and barrier-free showers for wheelchair-bound veterans. Other homes might have lower-positioned sinks and touchless faucets, or ADA-approved ones with levers instead of knobs, as well as lower kitchen cabinets that are easily accessible by disabled veterans.

David Belman. Cole's home was his sixth project for Operation Finally Home. Courtesy of Operation Finally Home

A Revitalized Life

In 2019, Belman drove Cole to see his new home in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, for the first time. Cole was overwhelmed by how many people at the ribbon-cutting ceremony cheered him on and supported him and his whole family. “It was beyond his expectations. It’s a pretty powerful experience,” Belman said.

Belman built Cole’s home with fewer windows because of Cole’s post-injury sensitivity to light. He also created a special dark room, or blackout room, in the basement that resembles a bunker. This safe place allows Cole to retreat when he experiences stressful moments or severe migraines. This consideration has been a huge change for the Army veteran, who said he experiences fewer migraines thanks to the special room. Fewer windows also keeps the house cooler, so he doesn’t overheat or experience stress rashes.

Cole says he’s a blessed man. His partnership with OPFH created a community he can cling to. Thanks to OPFH events, he’s bonded with people with shared experiences, making fast friends in his new city. “The most traumatic part of leaving the military is leaving that community. That was a big part of my depression, but OPFH creates a community,” he said.

Today, Cole engages more with his family. He can receive the reconstructive surgeries he needs at the nearby VA hospital. He’s taking classes with his wife as they both pursue careers in nursing. For Cole and his family, the blessings of a house from OPFH have been life-changing.

This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.