A Brush With Kindness (ABWK) is a home repairs program operated by Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County. The mission of this program is to enhance the quality of life for the community by offering home improvement services to qualifying non-Habitat families.
During tough economic times, homeowners face challenging circumstances. The expense of maintain a home is often overshadowed by the cost of raising and supporting a family and meeting other needs. Many homeowners must often choose between paying for food, medication, utilities and repairs to their home. When basic family expenses exceed income month after month, home maintenance and repairs are often among the first needs to be overlooked. Years of deferred maintenance can cause a downward spiral of home deterioration. Left undone, these repairs develop into unsafe living conditions, code violations or insurance cancellations. .
Before After
Qualifying ABWK participants must
- Own and currently reside in a home in need of repair
- Have current homeowners insurance coverage
- Reside within the service area of Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County
- Fall below 60% of the household median income for Iredell County
- Agree to partner with Habitat in all aspects of the project, including participation in completing repairs, to the best of their abilities.
Homeowners should agree to remain in the home for at least 3 years after the project is completed.What Projects Will Be Considered?
Any number of projects could fall into the category of maintaining safety and quality of life. The list below includes just a few of the projects that might qualify for A Brush With Kindness assistance.
ABWK projects may include:
- Roof Repairs
- Replacement of damaged framing or flooring
- Weatherproofing
- Window & Door Replacement or repair
- Grading and landscaping to improve drainage
- Installation of handicap accessible hardware and/or ramps
- Gutter installation or repair
- Tree trimming or removal
Due to limited funding, Habitat must limit A Brush With Kindness projects to a $1000.00 each. With labor provided by volunteers, this funding can be dedicated to the materials necessary to complete the project. As funding and support for the program increases we may adjust this per-project funding limit to allow the program to perform larger, more costly repair projects.
There is no cost to the homeowner at this time. We will consider their participation and assistance with the repairs their "payment" in return for our services. As the program grows and funding/support increases, we may choose to implement a homeowner payment plan at a later date.
The work will be done by groups of skilled volunteers. These groups will be recruited and supervised by Habitat staff. We will ensure that they have the necessary knowledge, tools and material to complete the project, consistent with the quality we provide to all of our partner families.
How will it Work?
A homeowner in need of repairs will complete and submit an application. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of Habitat staff and volunteers. Participants will be selected based on the severity and urgency of their need for repairs. Once selected, a participant will be asked to sign a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the program in detail.
Habitat staff will complete a preliminary assessment of the repairs needed. This will be used to create an outline of the projected cost and material needs, as well as a timeline in which the work will be completed. .A volunteers group will be recruited to complete the repairs. Volunteers will work in cooperation with Habitat construction staff to complete the project within the suggested timeline. Members of the participant household should assist and support ABWK volunteers whenever possible. Upon completion, the homeowner and a member of Habitat staff will complete a project summary. This will detail the work done, materials used and any suggested maintenance to prevent the issue from recurring.
