Homeowner Success Stories
Learn about our impact from the homeowners themselves.
1. Patricia and her 6 kids
Patricia is 49 and has nine children, six of which are under ten years old and live with her. She makes a little over $1,162/month, which equates to $13,944/year. For the past four years, they lived without a working furnace or running water. That meant no showers and no working toilets. They heated the home with the oven and a space heater. Patricia has a severe hoarding disorder that led to the rooms in her home being unable to serve their purpose. The bedrooms had so many clothes on the floor that the door couldn’t shut and the beds weren’t accessible. The kitchen clutter meant the sink and countertops weren’t usable.
Patricia was ready to receive help, but didn’t know where to turn. Her children’s school therapist pointed her to us. As the only provider of free home repairs, we were the only option. Kathy, our Construction Manager, walked through Patricia’s home. She identified that Patricia needed a new furnace and water heater; a new toilet, sink, vanity, and new plumbing in the bathroom; new cabinets, countertops, a new sink, and new plumbing in the kitchen; new doors to the bedrooms, bathroom, and exterior. However, before any of those repairs could be made, the house had to be de-cluttered.
Because this was such a big job, we partnered with the children’s school and WE Energies. The school paid for the hoarding clean-out company and WE Energies split the cost of the furnace and water heater with us so we could have enough money to complete the other repairs. Once the house was cleared out and the bigger appliances were installed, we completely transformed the bathroom and kitchen. In the bathroom, the pipes coming out of the wall were replaced by a new vanity and sink. The toilet pipes were snaked so they could flush the toilet for the first time in four years. The plumbing for the shower was repaired so they could finally take a shower that we all take for granted. In the kitchen, we replaced her lower cabinets, countertop, sink, plumbing, and oven so they can cook and store food properly. Lastly, we replaced the deteriorating exterior doors to keep Patricia and her family safe from her abusive ex-husband as well as the interior bedroom and bathroom doors to give everyone privacy when they need it most. Shortly after completing the repairs, her
ex-husband returned to the house and attempted to kick the door in to get to her and her kids and was unsuccessful.
Patricia now lives in a home she is proud of and safe in, and her kids can go to school focused on their schoolwork.
2. Jose’s New Ramp
Jose is a retired foundry worker who has lived with diabetes for over 20 years. He was born in Mexico and moved to Milwaukee in 1979 where he has spent 27 years in his current home.
As a result of his medical condition, both legs were amputated and he now uses a wheelchair. With no ramp allowing him easy access in and out of his home, his daughters had to carry him up and down the stairs but often found they could not do it alone. “We literally had to knock on neighbors’ doors to see who could help us,” his daughter Silvia said.
Jose’s lack of mobility caused him to suffer from depression—he missed being able to enjoy the outdoors and trips to his favorite place, 7 Mile Fair. On his 68th birthday, we were happy to let him know that a contractor would begin building a ramp for him.
Not only did the ramp help Jose regain his sense of independence by allowing him to leave and enter his home safely, but it also alleviated his depression .
3. Michelle’s Accessibility Repairs
Michelle is the single mother of Abigail and Autumn, a seven-year-old girl with Angelman Syndrome—a rare neuro-genetic disorder characterized by developmental delay, lack of speech, seizures and walking and balance disorders. The condition has left Autumn with the cognitive ability of a toddler and confined to a wheelchair because of her frequent falls and fragile bones. When her husband passed away unexpectedly in 2016, Michelle was left to raise their two girls on her own. As Autumn grew heavier, Michelle struggled more and more to fold and unfold the wheelchair and carry her in and out of their home. Even with all her struggles, Michelle didn’t want to ask for help. It took consistent urging from her friend for her to finally reach out to us.
Our contractors built a wheelchair ramp to ease access in and out of the house. They also replaced the vinyl flooring in the bathroom with non-slip flooring and installed grab bars to prevent falls as Michelle lifts Autumn in and out of the tub. But perhaps the most life-changing for Michelle’s family were the modifications made to Autumn’s bedroom. The combination of Autumn’s cognitive and physical disabilities made it impossible for Michelle to have a moment of peace. She had to constantly monitor her activity to ensure she was safe. We made a secure place for Autumn to play by padding all the walls and installing a half-door, which allowed Michelle to see in without allowing her to get out. These repairs were truly life-altering for the family.
These are just some of the hundreds of homeowners we serve each year.
Stories like these are all too common and we are the only resource that provides these repairs for free. Support us by donating or volunteering!
