Atlanta Habitat Helps Homeowners Age-in-Place with Home Depot Foundation Grant

Atlanta Habitat for Humanity is furthering its commitment to make housing affordable, safe and attractive with a $450,000 grant from The Home Depot Foundation that will help homeowners, including seniors and veterans, age-in-place in the comfort of their homes. The Home Depot Foundation support has enabled the organization to serve more than 50 military veterans since the program’s inception.

The grant will be used for Atlanta Habitat’s Repair with Kindness (RWK) program to pay for critical home repairs on owner-occupied homes in Atlanta and South Fulton County. Through a companion program, Brush with Kindness (BWK), homes can be refreshed with exterior paint.

Since its launch in 2016, RWK has been offered to non-Habitat homeowners in targeted neighborhoods that include Dixie Hills, the historic Westside (English Avenue, Vine City, Ashview Heights, Atlanta University Center), and all neighborhoods in NPU Z  including Orchard Knob and South River Gardens.

This year, RWK was expanded to East Point, Grove Park, and the Lightning neighborhood of Fairburn.  Historically, BWK has been offered for homes built by the nonprofit. Due to the success of this program, Atlanta Habitat has expanded BWK to reach homeowners whose homes were not built by Atlanta Habitat in the Ashview Heights and East Point neighborhoods.

The Home Depot Foundation donation enables the organization to help more homeowners in both RWK and BWK programs.

“Our critical repair program targets homeowners who are the bedrock of many of Atlanta’s older communities. With the Home Depot’s help, Atlanta Habitat is changing the quality of their lives and fighting against displacement with so many communities under development pressure,” says Lisa Y. Gordon, Atlanta Habitat President/CEO. “There are times, when members of our community have to choose between paying for home repairs or food, medicine or other basics. Through these services, our residents, including seniors and veterans, don’t have to make these tough choices. Atlanta Habitat is sincerely grateful for The Home Depot and its dedication to Atlanta Habitat families.”

“We’re proud to work alongside our hometown partners, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity on such an important cause. We hope these joint efforts further our mission to revitalize Atlanta’s historic neighborhoods and continue to be positive for everyone involved,” says Jena Alford, Manager of Atlanta Hometown Giving for The Home Depot Foundation.

Home repairs, which Atlanta Habitat provides with certified licensed subcontractors, include roof replacement to accessibility amenities, storm door and window installations and other repairs that improve health, safety, or weatherization. To be considered for the program, homes must be at least 15 years old. Additionally, homeowners need to be in good standing with their mortgages, insurance, and property taxes and meet income and other requirements. Homeowners also are required to be present while repairs are being made and contribute sweat-equity hours.

Wallace and Jannette Reed recently had a new roof installed and an old oak tree that hung over it cut down through Repair with Kindness.

“It was a blessing in disguise,” said Wallace Reed, a 58-year-old U.S. Army veteran who has lived with his wife in their Rosedale Heights home for 28 years.

Atlanta Habitat also built a new concrete walkway for the couple and left eight packages of shingles for the roof for future use.  Much to Jannette Reed’s delight, the shingles are brown, not the typical black shingles Atlanta Habitat typically installs.

“When they came out with a brown roof, I said, ‘thank you, God!’ for answering another prayer.”

By the end of 2019, more than 150 veterans and seniors and other homeowners in need will have received RWK or BWK improvements, an increase from the original goal of 141 homes this year.

Atlanta and South Fulton residents can apply for the programs by contacting Stefanie Gough, Family Services Home Repair Program Coordinator, at 404-465-1068 or stefanie.gough@atlantahabitat.org.

About The Home Depot Foundation

The Home Depot Foundation works to improve the homes and lives of U.S. veterans, train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap and support communities impacted by natural disasters. Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $315 million in veteran causes and improved more than 45,000 veteran homes and facilities in 4,300 cities. In 2018, the Foundation pledged an additional $250 million to veteran causes taking the total commitment to half of a billion dollars by 2025.

To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation visit thd.co/foundation and follow us on Twitter @HomeDepotFound and Facebook + Instagram @HomeDepotFoundation.