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Justin Perez-Gorda: ‘Paralyzed’ Vet Walks After Getting Free House

By Jonathan Franks
Published on: 07:27 PST, May 22, 2015

Justin Perez-Gorda, an allegedly paralyzed Army veteran, is reportedly being investigated by a charitable organization that offered his family a free, customized home.

Homes for Our Troops, a national non-profit organization, gave Perez-Gorda the Texas home free of charge back in December of 2013.

Army specialist Perez-Gorda reportedly experienced a traumatic brain injury while serving a tour in Afghanistan in January of 2011. His family claimed for years that he permanently lost the use of his lower body due to an IED explosion.

Completing the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs grant process was required in order for Justin Perez-Gorda to qualify for the home in addition to a successful background check.

However, photos and videos of Perez-Gorda walking on his property while carrying lumber started circulating shortly after he received the free home. When approached by neighbors about the “recovery,” Daily Mail claims that Justin’s family seemed “angry and withdrawn.”

Bill Ivey, the executive director of Homes for Our Troops (HFOT), opened up about the controversy during an interview with WTSP.

“Obviously there is something out there we missed. Homes for Our Troops continues to assess the situation and is weighing our options.”

Ivey further stated to the Times-Herald that repossessing the home from Justin Perez-Gorda is actually a last resort. Homes for our Troops builds mortgage-free homes that are specially adapted for Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans that have been severely injured. HFOT provides these charitable services to the injured war veterans in order to assist them in rebuilding their lives.

As shown on its official website, Homes for Our Troops has built over 180 homes for injured veterans and currently have 49 home-build projects underway throughout the United States.

The organization’s mission statement reflects its desire to provide quality assistance to qualified veterans by offering free homes.

“Most of these Veterans have sustained injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury. These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives.”

Due to the allegations against Justin Perez-Gorda, the donation link included in his biography on the organization’s website has been removed and his diagnosis has been listed as “incomplete paraplegia.”

[Image Credit: Daily Mail]

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