‘Blessed and thankful’: New home dedicated to Helene-impacted veteran in WNC

SWANNANOA, N.C. (WLOS) — After more than a year and a half spent living in the aftermath of what Hurricane Helene took from him, one Marine Corps veteran has finally stepped into his new home.

During the storm, a tree fell on the home of local veteran Billy Ricketts III, and he had been living in a camper on his property ever since. On Monday, May 18, Purple Heart Homes and Valley Strong Disaster Relief dedicated a new home to him.

Purple Heart Homes, Inc. has helped over 4,000 veterans all across the country. The nonprofit organization serves veterans with critical home repairs, building ramps, HVAC systems and building modular homes to give to veterans.

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Leah Gutierrez, director of program services for Purple Heart Homes, said the organization wanted to send homes to western North Carolinian veterans impacted by Helene. The nonprofit partnered with Valley Strong Disaster Relief to meet Ricketts and get him the help he needed.

“He was a little hesitant at first, you know, most veterans are because some feel that they’re not as deserving or that someone else deserves it more than them,” Gutierrez said.

But on Monday, it felt surreal.

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“[I’m] just blessed and thankful for my community,” Ricketts said. “Means a lot, coming home and seeing members of the community are pitching in to help one another.”

“For him to be able to transition from that to a stable home, I mean, our logo is ‘Healing Hearts One Home at a Time,’ and so if we’re able to do that for each veteran, then we’ve done our mission,” Gutierrez said.

Ricketts said he is looking forward to some peace and quiet as the new home represents the next chapter of his life.