Habitat hands over keys to its seventh Veterans Build

Janene Houskeeper, a U.S. Navy veteran, accepted the keys to her new house during a ceremony Friday at 806 N. Tom St.

Scott Clayton, executive director of Habitat for Humanity, noted Houskeeper’s house is the seventh that the organization has built for veterans and 161st overall.

Habitat’s Veterans Build program began in 2017 with a $40,000 donation from the friends of World War II Veteran Harold Layton. He made the request to his friends because he admired Habitat’s work after the 2011 Joplin tornado.

Houskeeper was joined by Habitat volunteers in building her house. She will live in the house with her three children, Cadence, Allison and Colton.

Major donors recognized were General Mills and U.S. Bank, along with Webb City ogranizations American Legion Post 322 and VFW Post 7630.