Long Island Community Gifts Veteran, Family With New Home

MILLER PLACE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island Veteran and his family were on the verge of homelessness before their community stepped in with a real Christmas miracle of their own.

As CBS2's Dave Carlin reports, after a series of bad breaks, they finally got a great one.

Disabled veteran Glen Cote, his wife Renee, and their 7-year old son Zachary got their first look at their new home on Helm Avenue in Miller Place, Long Island Wednesday afternoon.

The Cotes were just days away from an eviction deadline that was no fault of their own.

Renee says the home they were renting went into foreclosure.

Making matters worse -- in addition to Glen's disability, Renee suffers from a rare illness and 7-year-old Zachary has brain cancer.

Veterans groups answered the call for help, helping to raise a $10,000 down payment on the new home the developer built for half-price.

The family toured their new digs in amazement at all the sparkling appliances and spacious rooms.

"It's gorgeous," said Glen. "I didn't know what to expect, and to see the furniture in the room."

Zachary was most excited about the walk-in closet he says he'll fill with toys. Most important to his mom -- they weren't forced to move away from the school her special needs son relies on.

"I can send him to school knowing he's loved and safe and that means a lot," she said. "Gives me peace of mind."

In the basement, Zachary found a crawl space he says he'll turn into a play room for his new friends.

Friends from a local church group exchanged hugs and tears with the Cote family, calling the new home an answer to their prayers.

For the family -- they can now say they're truly home for the holidays.