Repair with Kindness, Refresh a Life

When Sonja reached out to Atlanta Habitat, she wasn’t quite sure how much they would be able to help her, but she knew they would be her best option.

Atlanta Habitat launched its Repair with Kindness program in December 2015 to provide critical repairs for longtime homeowners in the city who would not otherwise afford to. Since then, the program has helped more than 130 seniors, military veterans, and other homeowners with critical home repairs.  

Sonja had been in her home since 2001 and despite years of upkeep, the list of needed repairs grew.  Her home had a faulty roof, a hole in her bathroom ceiling, a decaying kitchen, and her back door did not close.  

Sonja had contacted her insurance company, but they didn’t provide much aid. With few options left, Sonja considered selling her home and moving into a senior community. It was not something that she wanted to do but she had run out of options until she heard of the Repair with Kindness Program.  

At first, Habitat was only taking veteran applicants who were veterans, but seniors were next on the list. She continued calling back every month until her application was accepted.  

“I got a call back and they said, ‘we’re ready to help you now,’” Sonja remembered. “I just screamed because it was my turn to have help and I needed it so desperately.”

The first time Habitat came out to Sonia’s home she revealed her final need.  

For the last 15 years no one had been in Sonja’s home.  

“I had gotten disabled and sick and fell into depression, so when habitat came, it took me almost an hour before I let her in my house because I became a hoarder and I had so much stuff,” Sonja expressed. “I had a shop in College Park, and I lost it and I just stuffed stuff in and then when I got sick, I just stuffed more stuff in.”  

With Habitat’s help, Sonja let go of seven 1-800-GOT-JUNK? trucks worth of collected items.

After everything was cleared out it was time for the critical repairs to be made.

“My cat used to have to jump and walk over stuff, right? But then he hurt his hip, sliding on the hardwood floors and running through the house. It was so funny,” Sonja joked. “I said, look at you. You hurt, but he had a ball running through the house.  I was happy. The cat was happy. The dog was happy.”

Before Habitat was finished, they also repainted the outside of her home through the Brush with Kindness Program.  

Sonja was overjoyed to receive a refresh on her home and it reflected in her life immediately. During those 15 years that Sonja wasn’t letting people in, she also wasn’t going out.  

“I am getting out of the house. I teach now,” Sonja shared excitedly. “I used to volunteer teaching at [H.J.C. Bowden Center], and now they called me back to hire me. So I’m working 15 hours and doing what I love to do — everything my mom taught me. So I’m getting out more and I’m meeting more people.”

Sonja has also hosted a few family members in her home for the first time in a decade and a half. She also hopes to begin holding bible study in her living room once she gets it to look how she wants.

She is currently planning on an Olive Green accent wall with paintings she owns that remind her of her mother.  

After Habitat came through her neighborhood, Sonja began to meet her neighbors and noticed they were repairing their homes and putting a fresh coat of paint on. She quickly realized that just by working with Habitat, she was a catalyst for a neighborhood refresh.  

“Habitat changed my life. They changed my surroundings. They made the people around me want to do better and I think that’s great.”