Volunteers build 6 Orange County homes for veterans

TUSTIN, Calif. (KABC) -- Inside a hangar at the former Marine Corps air station base in Tustin, more than 200 volunteers put together the frames for six future homes in Orange County to be given to veterans.

"When a veteran comes back or even a veteran who's aging in place, you want to give them a place they can call home and be proud of," said Andy Benson, senior manager of Home Depot.

The project is a collaboration between Home Depot and Habitat for Humanity's Orange County chapter. Five houses will be placed in Santa Ana and one home in Tustin.

On Wednesday, volunteers also built fences and packed emergency response kits for the future homeowners.

Veteran and single mother Diana Eagan will be one of the recipients of the project who will realize her dream of homeownership.

It'll help me "not be as concerned about the increase in apartment rentals, which was astronomical for myself," Eagan said.

Habitat for Humanity hopes to see veterans and their families move into the homes by early next year.