project:HOMES

Client Stories

A DREAM COME TRUE – Vivian fell on hard times after her husband died. She loved her neighborhood and hoped to stay in her small Henrico County home. As she began searching for local resources for financial assistance she came across information about project:HOMES and the work the non-profit organization does in Central Virginia to help families, disabled individuals and older adults with critical home repairs. “I had gotten used to living with the problems in my house because I didn’t have the money for home repairs, but the damage was getting worse each year,” explained Vivian. Her house was in desperate need of repair and her fixed income didn’t provide any funds for the repairs.

When project:HOMES inspectors arrived they found asbestos in her siding, lead paint, a leaking roof, an inefficient and unsafe oil furnace, leaking pipes and other problem areas at her 1939 home. They added her to the project:HOMES waiting list and completed the repair work at her home this year.

“It was a dream come true,” said Vivian, who was relieved to finally have the asbestos removed from her home and new porch railings installed. “It has improved my life drastically. The new railings were a blessing in disguise because now I’m having problems with my knees and the railings are wonderful. All the work on my home has just been a blessing,” added Vivian.

A NEW SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE– Donald loves to talk about his military service and proudly wears his 82^ND Airborne Division Veterans’ hat. Unfortunately, he was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in the Vietnam War and developed Parkinson’s disease. As his condition worsened over the past two years he had to depend on a wheelchair to get around.

The front steps at his Richmond home made it difficult for him to leave his house as he struggled to try to use a cane. “He was trapped in the house,” said his sister who lives with him. “He had to wait for me to try to help, but he needed to be in the wheelchair.”

They heard about project:HOMES from their neighbor and applied for a wheelchair ramp from the project:HOMES Renew Crew program, which utilizes more than 1,000 volunteers to help build and install wheelchair ramps around Richmond.

Earlier this year a team of volunteers built and installed a wheelchair ramp for Donald. “I love the ramp. It allows me to get around now and I can go the store,” said Donald. “Now, he’s able to leave the house by himself and go visit his buddies in the neighborhood. It is so wonderful for him to have his independence back again,” explained his sister. “We love the new ramp to death.”




	Home Core Services WEATHERIZATION REHABILITATION REVITALIZATION CONSERVATION About Us Client Stories FAQs Contacts Staff Board of Directors Donate The Renew Crew	Client Stories A DREAM COME TRUE – Vivian fell on hard times after her husband died. She loved her neighborhood and hoped to stay in her small Henrico County home. As she began searching for local resources for financial assistance she came across information about project:HOMES and the work the non-profit organization does in Central Virginia to help families, disabled individuals and older adults with critical home repairs. “I had gotten used to living with the problems in my house because I didn’t have the money for home repairs, but the damage was getting worse each year,” explained Vivian. Her house was in desperate need of repair and her fixed income didn’t provide any funds for the repairs. When project:HOMES inspectors arrived they found asbestos in her siding, lead paint, a leaking roof, an inefficient and unsafe oil furnace, leaking pipes and other problem areas at her 1939 home. They added her to the project:HOMES waiting list and completed the repair work at her home this year. “It was a dream come true,” said Vivian, who was relieved to finally have the asbestos removed from her home and new porch railings installed. “It has improved my life drastically. The new railings were a blessing in disguise because now I’m having problems with my knees and the railings are wonderful. All the work on my home has just been a blessing,” added Vivian. A NEW SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE– Donald loves to talk about his military service and proudly wears his 82^ND Airborne Division Veterans’ hat. Unfortunately, he was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in the Vietnam War and developed Parkinson’s disease. As his condition worsened over the past two years he had to depend on a wheelchair to get around. The front steps at his Richmond home made it difficult for him to leave his house as he struggled to try to use a cane. “He was trapped in the house,” said his sister who lives with him. “He had to wait for me to try to help, but he needed to be in the wheelchair.” They heard about project:HOMES from their neighbor and applied for a wheelchair ramp from the project:HOMES Renew Crew program, which utilizes more than 1,000 volunteers to help build and install wheelchair ramps around Richmond. Earlier this year a team of volunteers built and installed a wheelchair ramp for Donald. “I love the ramp. It allows me to get around now and I can go the store,” said Donald. “Now, he’s able to leave the house by himself and go visit his buddies in the neighborhood. It is so wonderful for him to have his independence back again,” explained his sister. “We love the new ramp to death.”