ORLANDO, Fla — Many people lay their head on a pillow or sprawl out on the couch after an exhausting day, normally not thinking twice if they’ll have it there tomorrow. Unfortunately, that’s the reality for over 1 million veterans in the state of Florida, according to the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs.

David Sauls, a disabled veteran who served in Desert Storm, said he couldn’t bear to live with the thought of another brother not having a home or resources. “It’s a full circle moment. That’s where the drive comes from.”

The drive to Build Davy’s Place, a 501 (3c) that will help provide transitional housing to those veterans in need.

“I’m fighting for those that fought for us and when folks give to Davey’s place, they’re giving to those that gave,” he said.

Sauls himself was never homeless, but he said when he learned the alarming statistic of veteran homelessness, he didn’t know how to feel.

“Over 30% of veterans — that’s just too much. I started out angry and then channeled that into something positive,” because Saul says no person deserves to stay in a bad spot. “If you’re more fortunate than others, you shouldn’t build a bigger fence, you should build a bigger table. That’s what’s driven this desire to get Davey’s place up and running.”

It’s all been through the grassroot efforts of his support system, right here in Orlando. From small businesses helping with merchandise that’s gifted to them for donations.

“It’s been a fun little thing folks give the donation through the GoFundMe and then we pack it up and send it to them,” he said.

With the funds raised, Sauls hopes to provide a home where veterans can transition from homelessness safely and confidently. A transition he knows can be tough.

“It’s hard to have a hard life, but not let yourself have a hard heart, and that’s my story. How do I help others the way I wanted to be helped?”

He hopes Davy’s Place will reduce the number of homeless veterans and plans to build the first home in Perry, Florida, where he himself battled food insecurity, an abusive home, and multiple moves.

“To be able to come back to that place, to a place that has some pain associated with it and do this thing. That’s healing that’s important to me and it’s important that it’s the place we do it at.”

David says the transitional home will connect with other community partners to love on the people others give up on because dealing with PTSD and other mental illness is just too hard.

“Giving them a sense of real purpose and a sense of day-to-day living. Being able to sit on the front porch and have a cup of coffee, have a conversation with a friend. I mean, those are the things we want to give back to them, restore their dignity.”

Sauls hopes to start building the home before the end of the year. If you would like to learn more about the transitional home or how you can help, visit www.Davysplace.com.

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