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Frederica Wilson Breaks Ground on Veterans Housing Named for Sgt. La David Johnson
U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson joined community leaders and family members Monday to break ground on the Sgt. La David T. Johnson Veterans Villas, a $3 million federally backed affordable housing project for veterans in Miami-Dade County. The development honors the Miami Gardens native killed in a 2017 ambush in Niger.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY â U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson joined community leaders and the family of Sgt. La David T. Johnson on Monday to break ground on a new affordable housing development for veterans, named in honor of the South Florida soldier killed in a 2017 military ambush in Niger.
The Sgt. La David T. Johnson Veterans Villas will be supported by $3 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to organizers. The project is a collaborative effort involving CRC Leadership Inc., JL Brown Development Corp., Miami-Dade County and local housing advocates.
"What I'm trying to do [is] make sure that they have dignity, that they're safe, and they get a home. And I wanted to name it after Sgt. La David Johnson," Wilson said at the ceremony.
Johnson, a Miami Gardens native, was 25 years old when he was killed during a military mission ambush in Niger in 2017, along with three other American soldiers. Wilson said naming the project after him recognizes both his service and his family's sacrifice.
"I wanted people to understand that we appreciated his sacrifice. We appreciated what happened. And we appreciate his family and the sacrifice they had to endure," she said.
Johnson's wife and son attended Monday's groundbreaking. His wife said she felt "very proud" and described the tribute as "a blessing," noting that the city is still remembering her husband's name and honoring his legacy. His son said he felt "happy and honored" by the recognition.
Organizers hope to welcome veterans into their new homes by Christmas 2027.
The project comes as South Florida continues to grapple with an affordable housing crisis that has hit veterans and working families hard. The development is intended to provide safe, stable housing for those who have served, a priority Wilson has championed in Congress.
The ceremony was held on the eve of Veterans Day, adding symbolic weight to a project that supporters say honors both Johnson's memory and the broader veteran community in Miami-Dade County.