Habitat for Humanity’s Critical Home Repair Program helps homeowners stay safe

Jun 20, 2023

Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity celebrated a milestone recently with one of its newest programs aimed at keeping people’s homes safe and allowing them to live there longer.


The organization’s Critical Home Repair Program recently completed its 100th repair, in conjunction with National Homeowners and National Safety Month.

Abigail Blake, GRHFH family services director, said the home repair program started about two years ago; first in Monroe County and has since expanded into Ontario and Wayne counties with the recent merger of the organizations.


The work that has been done in the program ranges from the installation of a ramp, which costs a couple of thousand dollars, to more involved projects that cost up to $40,000, and include improvements such as new insulation, roofing and plumbing upgrades.


“We help keep the homes safe and habitable,” Blake said. “We are here to provide a little help to those who may not be able to keep up.”

Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity offers affordable home repair services to qualified homeowners in the three counties so they can continue to live in safe, decent homes.


The work helps to preserve homes and revitalize neighborhoods, according to the organization.


To qualify, the property:

  • Must be located within the GRHFH service area
  • The home must be owner-occupied, single-family house or mobile home and the primary residence of the owner
  • The home is in disrepair or unsafe and GRHFH’s scope of work will significantly benefit the homeowner longevity in the property, and
  • The home needs repair to areas of concern for health and/or safety needs including weatherization, roofing, mobility assistance, heating or stability.


Blake said there are currently over 100 applications that the organization is working through.


Most of the applications are from senior citizens or people with disabilities, but there are also some from young families, she noted. The organization also works with veterans seeking home repairs.


Habitat received roughly $400,000 this year to put toward the home repair program and the organization is continually seeking additional funding for the program, Blake noted.

According to GRHFH Critical Home Repair Coordinator Robert Merz, most home repairs are done by volunteers and a staff site supervisor.


While much of the first year of the program focused on exterior home repairs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization this year has been able to place a greater emphasis on critical interior improvements that make the homes safer, he said.


A large part of the program’s success is because of the base of volunteers the organization can draw from, he says, adding doing such volunteer work is a great community outreach or team building event for companies.


Merz has been overwhelmed by the response the program has received and is committed to serving as many people as possible.


“There’s so much we want to do and even though we can’t do it all, it’s nice to know we are making a difference,” he said.

Maria Sutton turned to the program for support.


Sutton, a city resident in her 70s who uses a walker and cane, was having difficulty navigating her front steps due to an unsafe porch railing.


Sutton turned to the Critical Repair Program for help.


Once Sutton was approved, the GRHFH repair crew not only built a ramp to replace the railing, but they also saw – and addressed – additional safety concerns in Sutton’s house.


The crew completed several projects, including replacing the bedroom fan and light, a damaged faucet and range hood, adding a grab bar in the bathroom and installing secondhand rails to the stairs. They also installed new smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as her old ones had aged out.


As a result, Sutton not only felt safer in her home, but believes the changes – which gave her a sense of pride – are helping revitalize her neighborhood.


“I am in awe of this program,” she said.

Bright Spot: Rochester Woman Build team breaks ground on 20th Women Build House

08 Mar, 2024
Rochester, N.Y. — Our Bright Spot shines on Habitat for Humanity's Women Build. It's International Women's Day, and on Friday, the Rochester Woman Build team broke ground on their 20th 'Women Build' House.

New home brings new beginning for Rochester family through Habitat For Humanity

23 Feb, 2024
It’s a new beginning for a single mother in Rochester, as she moves her family into their new home thanks to Greater Rochester Habitat For Humanity. Shuane Williams has taken personal loss as an opportunity to give back. In 2013, she lost her son to gun violence. “It was the most senseless thing to happen to our family, and I think that if you stay in the community and you see things happen, you can’t stay angry. So, what do you do, right?” said Williams. She decided to create a youth advocacy program to give Rochester kids support and a voice. “It was something we started for our children to be able to advocate for themselves. We wanted children to be able to stand up on their own and be able to speak about things going on with them. We find out they speak to themselves more than they speak to us,” she said. Williams and her daughters will soon move into the new home in the Beechwood neighborhood, with the help of Habitat For Humanity. She is the first homebuyer in her family, and also had a hand in construction, putting in 300 hours of work toward the build. “This is a dream come true for me. I’ve literally been trying to do this since my son passed away. Not only did Habitat nail it, they gave me exactly what I wanted,” said Williams. “There’s something really solid about an owner-occupant who moves into a neighborhood, puts their stake down and says, ‘I’m going to take care of this neighborhood because this is where I live.’ They’re more likely to look out the window and say what needs to be fixed versus turning the other way and wondering when something’s going to happen,” said Matt Flanigan, president and CEO of Greater Rochester Habitat For Humanity. Williams says she didn’t turn away from the city after the loss of her son. She reflects on the decision to stay as this new chapter begins. “So many people run away from the violence in this community. So many people go, ‘Oh, well this should happen, and we should do this.’ Then, they move out. So, how are you helping your community if you’re not here? In order to help your community, you have to stay inside your community. So, it’s very important for me to stay here in the city of Rochester,” said Williams. This home build is the second of 2024 for Habitat For Humanity. It was also made possible through a partnership with Avangrid and RG&E as well as Bank of America. Original Article: https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/new-home-brings-new-beginning-for-rochester-family-through-habitat-for-humanity/

'It feels like a dream come true': Local family celebrates new women-built home from Habitat for Humanity

10 Jan, 2024
Rochester, N.Y. - A Rochester family is earning a fresh start with a new home in the city. The Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity dedicated the home on Friday at a celebration with the homeowner, Angelica Pagan, and her two sons. "It feels good," said Dereck Beltran, Pagan's son. "It feels like a dream come true because first, I wanted to have a new room so that's good that we're going to have one in a couple weeks." An all-women team of more than 100 builders constructed the house as part of the women build program. Pagan also put in 200 hours toward building her home. "I am so delighted to be here to dedicate the nineteenth women-build house that has been built in Rochester and I'm very glad that it's going to you Angelica," said Pam Bradley, chair of the steering committee for the Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity. "They do all the fundraising and then they do all the building and you’ll hear their phrases like ‘give a woman a power tool and she’ll change the world,'" said Matt Flanigan, the president and CEO of the organization. "Well behind me is a living example of just that." Pagan fled Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. She is now the first person in her family to buy a home, which was a major goal of hers. "Thank you for Rochester Habitat for giving me this great opportunity to be able to provide my children with a safe home, but above all, achieve a dream," said Beltran as he read a letter written by his mother. "Something that I saw far away, but never impossible." Pagan hopes her home remains a reminder that it's never too late to follow your dreams. "She said, basically, never stop dreaming and always chase your dreams," said Beltran on behalf of his mother.  Original Article: https://13wham.com/news/local/it-feels-like-a-dream-come-true-local-family-celebrates-new-women-built-home-from-habitat-for-humanity
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