In a symbolic gesture of honor and homeownership, Veteran Housing Development will hold a groundbreaking and flag-raising ceremony on Saturday, June 14, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at 4660 West 20th Court in Gary, Indiana. The event will mark the launch of a new veteran housing community on five acres of land donated by the historic Means family, Gary’s first African American homebuilders.
The event celebrates a unique initiative led by Executive Director Bob Farmer, who founded Veteran Housing Development in 2009 in honor of Jeanette Winters—the first African American woman from Gary killed in the Afghanistan conflict.
“This is all about veteran homeownership,” Farmer said. “We want to move beyond transitional housing. This is about giving veterans the dignity of owning land and a home of their own.”
Each veteran selected for the program will be sold an acre of land for just one dollar. The five-acre plot will host five homes, each approximately 2,000 square feet, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and full basements. Each home will be financed through individual construction loans secured by the veterans, with average costs capped at $200,000—a price secured through partnerships with local builders.
The land was donated by the Means Corporation, a family credited with building the first homes for African Americans in Gary. Surviving family members will attend the ceremony, which Farmer says symbolizes “passing the torch” to a new generation of Black homeowners and veterans.
In addition to the homes, the community will include a children’s playground and a pool—amenities that reinforce the development’s family-oriented and veteran-centered mission.
The June 14 event will also feature a tribute to military history and culture. Guests will include the Director of Veteran Affairs for the State of Indiana, State Senator Lonnie Randolph, and surviving members of the Ira Hayes family, honoring the Native American serviceman who helped raise the U.S. flag on Hiroshima.
Also expected are Elizabeth Frazier, producer of the film “Six Triple Eight,” and Shanice Williams, who starred as Johnny May. The film honors the all-Black 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion of World War II—the only all-Black, all-female battalion to serve overseas during the war.
Light refreshments will be provided, including a barbecue catered by Big Daddy’s Barbecue and beverages donated by PepsiCo. The event is free and open to the public, with seating and food available while supplies last. A tented area will provide shade and a space for community gathering.
Veteran Housing Development also has plans to expand its work. Farmer confirmed the organization hopes to develop a 10-unit housing facility in Merrillville dedicated to female veterans with children under the age of 12. The effort continues Farmer’s long-standing mission to honor the service of veterans—particularly those often overlooked in the housing system.
“I may not be a veteran myself,” said Farmer, a former juvenile probation officer and military child who settled in Gary in 1981, “but I’ve devoted my time to ensuring that those who served have the opportunity to live with dignity, stability, and pride.”
Farmer currently resides in Florida, recovering from hip surgery, and manages the organization remotely with the help of volunteers and supporters. He credits the Crusader’s decades-long reputation with helping spotlight critical stories like this one.
For more information about the June 14 event or the housing initiative, contact Veteran Housing Development. Donations and community support are welcome as the organization continues to build safe and sustainable housing for veterans in Northwest Indiana.