LAYTON—Erik Thompson recently retired from high school coaching after more than 20 years due to the onset of ASL (Lou Gehrig’s disease). It has affected his ability to walk, write, grip, speak, swallow and breathe. 

Have A Heart Home Foundation, Nilson Homes, the Northern Wasatch Association of Realtors and the Northern Wasatch Homebuilders Association recently built a deeply discounted new home for the Thompsons that would better suit his needs.

Thompson and his family received the key to their new house at a ceremony held last week in South Weber.

“Erik is completely wheelchair bound,” said his wife Skye. “This will make it easier for him to get around and to care for him. It has a roll-in shower and wide doors. Standard doors are difficult, they’re not very ADA friendly. It also gives us room to have family come see us.”

Erik coached at both Northridge High School and Ogden High, she said. “He played football for his dad, a coach at Roy High.”

“Coach Thompson is greatly admired, even revered, and we are thrilled as a company to build this home to accommodate his ongoing needs with discounts from many, many partners,” said Jed Nilson, President and Owner of Nilson Homes in South Ogden.

The large custom home took about 18 months to complete, said Skye. “They dug the hole in October. It's gone quickly once it got started.”

Getting out of the house is huge for Erik, Skye said. “He can use his electric wheelchair now. His hands don’t work at all so he uses a mouth lever on it to get around the house and go out the back door.”

“In 1998, Have A Heart Homes began as a community service project initiated by the Northern Wasatch Association of REALTORS®. Northern Wasatch Association of REALTORS®. Later, the Northern Wasatch Home Builders Association joined the effort. The Associations have either refurbished or built 25 plus homes and sold them at substantial discounts to families with special needs in Davis and Weber counties. The homes are substantially discounted by builders and subcontractors who donate some of their supplies, services, and labor. In addition, REALTORS® and their affiliates help reduce closing costs and other fees through fundraisers conducted by the Community Outreach Committee and by collecting donations from individuals and local businesses,” according to a Nilson Homes release.

“Have a Heart Homes is one of our most-important outreach initiatives and demonstrates our commitment to the basic American value of home ownership,” said Michelle Williams, President of the Northern Wasatch Association of Realtors.

“It’s a great program,” said Skye. “They lower the cost of the home and it’s three doors down from our old house. We wanted to stay close to our home and family.”

All the people with Nilson Homes and Have a Heart Homes have been wonderful, she said. “Everyone donated their time and service. I’m so grateful that we got what we need.”