North Carolina Builders Donate Home to Deserving Veteran

Membership
Published

Combat-wounded veteran, U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant (SSgt.) Matthew Polizzi and his family have a brand new, mortgage-free custom home thanks to the generosity of the Operation: Coming Home foundation based in North Carolina.

Operation: Coming Home, founded by the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County, and the United States Veterans Corps, build and donate homes with the help of local home builders and subcontractors. Since 2008, the foundation has provided more than a dozen homes to combat-injured service men and women, and their families.

“The Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County has always been incredibly proud in our role in Operation: Coming Home. The only thing that makes us prouder are the veterans we honor through this process,” said Dicky Gephart, board president, HBA of Raleigh-Wake County during the ceremony unveiling the home on July 16.

SSgt. Polizzi is the recipient of Hero Home #23. He served as a Marine for 14 years and was deployed four times. SSgt. Polizzi received the Purple Heart from an injury in Afghanistan.

“There was so much love that was poured into this project. My family and I really appreciate that,” said Polizzi. “Part of the quintessential American Dream is to own your own home and because of these efforts, that dream of ours has now become a reality.”

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County board member Rich Van Tassel provided the lot for the home and the home was built by member Mattamy Homes.

“We are honored to support Operation: Coming Home by helping to build a home for such a deserving American hero,” said Bob Wiggins, President of Mattamy’s Raleigh Division. “It is our hope that this home will provide a place for the Polizzi family to make cherished memories for years to come.”

The ceremony was featured on ABC News World News Tonight’s “America Strong” news segment. Operation: Coming Home plans to donate another home to a deserving veteran in the fall.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Material Costs
Sep 17, 2026
House Bill Seeks Tariff Relief for Building Materials

NAHB worked with Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) on legislation aimed at lowering housing costs by establishing a tariff exemption process for building materials. The Housing Tariff Exclusion Act (H.R. 10416) would automatically exempt many home building materials from President Trump’s current and future tariffs and give importers a process to seek exemptions for additional materials.

Economics
Sep 17, 2026
‘Elevated Uncertainty’ Prompts Fed to Hike Rates

Facing persistent inflationary pressures, the Federal Reserve unanimously decided at its September policy meeting to raise the federal funds rate to a target range of 3.75% to 4%.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics
Sep 17, 2026
Single-Family Starts Rebound but Market Challenges Persist

Single-family housing starts rebounded in August, but production remains down 4.7% year to date as builders contend with rising construction costs, lot and labor shortages, and economic uncertainty.

Economics
Sep 16, 2026
With Inflation Uptick, Fed Hikes and Signals More to Come

The Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points at the conclusion of its September policy meeting, bringing the target range to 3.75% to 4%.

Economics
Sep 16, 2026
Builder Sentiment Falls on Higher Interest Rates and Costs

Higher mortgage rates, worsening labor shortages and rising material costs are weighing on builder sentiment.