TONY JUDNICH @Tonyjnwfdn

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Rev. Cecil Williams envisions the roughly 3,000-square-foot House of Valor as “an abode of light and love” for some local homeless veterans.

Williams, of Greg Chapel AME Church and the Fort Walton Beach-based nonprofit Third Chance Inc., spearheaded a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday afternoon for the planned House of Valor. It will be a six-unit apartment complex at 10 Nicholson St. that will provide housing for homeless, male vets.

Construction of the one-story, one-bedroom apartments could be completed in about 10-12 months, said project contractor Donnte Sheffield of Fort Walton Beach.

Williams said the House of Valor is part of the multi-faceted Lazarus Project that involves community partners providing clothing, counseling, job opportunities and other assistance to the men who will live in the apartments.

The residents will be chosen by the Pensacola-based nonprofit group called 90Works.

About 50 people attended Saturday’s groundbreaking event, at which they heard Williams asking God to make the House of Valor “the center of fresh, sweet and holy influence.”

State Rep. Mel Ponder, R-Destin, who was one of many dignitaries at the ceremony, expressed admiration for Williams’ vision.

“I’m thankful that he has put this together,” said Ponder, who added that the apartments will give some homeless veterans a safe place to live, enjoy a warm meal and receive help to get their lives back on track.

Gregg Chapel, which has been providing care for the homeless for more than 20 years, owns the property that will contain the apartments. Monthly rent for the veterans will be about $500, most of which likely will be paid through veteran vouchers, Williams said.

“This is the first step toward making them whole,” he said. “You can give people a job, food and clothing, but first they gotta have a home.”

Williams said the overall cost of the Lazarus Project is about $500,000. It includes the cost of demolishing two old homes on the project site, as well as construction, infrastructure and landscaping costs. Much of the funding comes from a conventional loan.

The largest donation to date for the overall initiative is a $250,000 grant from the Okaloosa County Community Development Corp. Other funding includes $34,333 from last month’s Gulf Power Clay Shoot for America’s Heroes event in Pace.

The county Veterans’ Court Program, Career Source, Homelessness & Housing Alliance and Bridgeway Center Inc. have also partnered with Williams to improve the lives of the House of Valor residents.

Donations for the Lazarus Project can be sent to Third Chance Inc. at 34 Carson Drive SE, Fort Walton Beach or online at gofundme.com/the-lazarus-project.