Mental illness affects one out of every four people. But, this week's Everyday Hero is trying to fight the disease -- and its stigma -- in the memory of her brother.

Lin Wilensky proudly shows me around a project close to her heart, known as "Dave's House."

Four men live here -- all with some form of mental illness.

"All of our Dave's House residents or nearly all have -- at some point -- been homeless and living on the street or in their car or under a tarp," Wilensky said.

But, with therapy and medication, this house is a haven -- a chance to break the cycle of institutionalized care. A resident at another Dave's House found the artist within.

"This shows how our Dave's House residents can really flourish when they have the right set of support services and a permanent home," Wilensky said.

On the outside, Dave's House looks like any other house in any other neighborhood. Currently, there are six Dave's House locations in Central Florida, and a seventh location will soon be purchased. What is unique about the house, though, is its purpose and inspiration.

Dave's House is named in memory of Wilensky's brother, Dave Jeffreys.

"Dave had schizophrenia, one of the most menacing mental illnesses," she said. "And he struggled very much for 25 years."

The houses are modeled after an award-winning program in Virginia where Jeffreys found refuge and stability in his final years.

"But, the turning point for him was living in in permanent, affordable housing with mental health support services," Wilensky said. "And that changed his life."

Wilensky and her husband founded The Brain Foundation of Florida. Private donations and grants provide about $250,000 needed to buy and renovate a house, which is then gifted to a behavioral care organization. It's self-sustaining from there. The residents pay rent and must have daily activities or a job.

"One eight-day psychiatric hospital stay costs the same as living in a Dave's House for a year," Wilensky said.

Dave's House gets financial support from groups like the Central Florida Foundation and the West Orange Healthcare District. Florida ranks 49th in per capita mental health care spending in the U.S.

Dave's House just makes a dent in the needs of the growing population of mentally ill. Wilensky is hoping to achieve an ambitious goal of 20 houses by 2020, and she feels her brother's presence will live in each one.

"I think he'd be very surprised, but I think he'd be smiling," she said.