Across San Diego County, volunteers, community partners, and corporate sponsors are coming together to help local veterans maintain safe, comfortable homes through San Diego Habitat for Humanity’s 2025 Veterans Build. The annual three-week initiative focuses on critical repairs that address the specific needs of veteran households, helping them continue living independently in the homes they love.
In El Cajon, volunteers are working at the home of Jim, a U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Vietnam War, and his wife, Pat. Their home is receiving a range of safety and modernization upgrades, including tree trimming to reduce fire risk, siding repair, yard leveling, fence fixes, repainting, construction of garden boxes, installation of a paver pathway, and a new shed with a foundation. A deck was also built over an old hot tub to remove a major hazard. Together, these improvements address long-standing safety risks and enhance accessibility, allowing Jim and Pat to continue living independently.
“The mission of Veterans Build is simple,” said Kwofi Reed, president and CEO of San Diego Habitat for Humanity. “We want every veteran in San Diego County to have a safe, healthy, and stable place to call home. Each repair project is tailored to the unique needs of the homeowner, from accessibility modifications to energy-efficiency upgrades and major safety issues. Our community comes together each year to show gratitude while addressing the housing challenges disproportionately impacting veterans.”
Two additional veteran families in the city of San Diego are receiving repairs simultaneously. Veteran households apply through Habitat’s VetRepair Program, which assesses health and safety needs, accessibility concerns, income eligibility, scope of repairs, and long-term sustainability.
“The goal is to help veterans continue living safely, independently, and comfortably in their homes for years to come,” Reed said.
Veterans Build relies heavily on community support. This year, hundreds of volunteers — including corporate teams from Sunrun, PNC Bank, ASML, Lowe’s, USS Midway Foundation, US Bank, City National Bank, L2 Solutions, Guild Mortgage, and Sharp Business Systems — contributed hands-on labor and financial support. Sunrun, the presenting sponsor, helped raise awareness and provided funding directly benefiting participating veteran families.
“Volunteers often tell us they walk away just as impacted as the homeowners,” Reed said. “That shared commitment is what makes this initiative so meaningful year after year.”
The program has already made a tangible difference for participating families. Jim and Pat expressed their gratitude, saying, “It has been wonderful to find people who are so caring to volunteer their time to help us with all these projects. They are worth their weight in gold. We appreciate each and every one of them and Habitat for Humanity for graciously helping us at this time in our lives.”
Other families, like Ann, a U.S. Army veteran and lifelong Girl Scout leader, have received accessibility upgrades and replacements for long-standing household features, while Clement and his sister Rosie described the program as providing “more than just a renovated house … you’re giving us hope, stability, and renewed pride in our home.”
Beyond repairs, Habitat offers resources that help veteran families maintain long-term stability, including guidance on home maintenance and energy-efficiency improvements that reduce monthly costs. Reed emphasized the ongoing need: “Veterans in San Diego face limited funding for essential home repairs, rising insurance and utility costs, and scarce affordable homeownership options. The public can help by volunteering, supporting our VetRepair Program, advocating for increased repair funding, and connecting us with veterans who may need assistance.”
