2020 2020 T MISSION Home Repair Services Strengthens Vulnerable the Best of Times, Kent County Homeowners Because Strong Homeowners Build Strong Communities
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IMPACT2020 REPORJuly 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020 T MISSION Home Repair Services strengthens vulnerable THE BEST OF TIMES, Kent County homeowners because strong homeowners build strong communities. THE WORST OF TIMES BOARD OF DIRECTORS JIM COMPERe – Chair Retired: Northwestern Mutual Life Dear Friend, in 2020, these emotions have taken place KENNETH JAMES – Vice Chair within the same day if not, the same hour. GR Area Chamber of Commerce “It was the best of times, it was the worst DANA O’LaUGHLIN – Treasurer of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was The dark moments have been big and Arbor Credit Union the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of especially ugly. It was a stealth-like novel ALLYSON TERPSMA – Secretary belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was virus that has preyed insidiously on the Warner Norcross + Judd LLP the season of light, it was the season of cherished populations that HRS happens DAN ENGELSMA darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was to serve the most – elders and persons of Engelsma Homes LLC the winter of despair.” color. It was the senseless death of George RUBEN RAMOS Floyd and how it shed new light on an R&R Mechanical As I have reflected on the past year, it is hard old and persistent reality – being black in SCOTT NICHOLSON America brings added risk and the pathways Benchmark Mortgage not to think of this often-quoted opening line from The Tale of Two Cities. It truly has to reward are still too narrow. It is in the TRACIE COFFMAN The W.K. Kellogg Foundation been a year of dramatic contrasts – best 16,000,000 currently unemployed Americans coupled with worst, darkness giving way to and 32% of homeowners unable to make LAURA KELSO Keller Williams Realty light, hope out of despair. And all too often their mortgage payment in July. KATHLEEN VANDErvEEN Grand Valley State University Best of times? It was a caring and courageous and rejoice in this civic good. It is through team that completed 1500 critical repairs – the outputs of roofs repaired, workshops COVID and all! It was successfully restoring taught, ramps built, foreclosures averted, heat for 292 profoundly grateful households – and the like that we all benefit from 99 receiving a new, energy-efficient furnace. the overarching outcome of a strong It was an amazing 40th Anniversary Gala community - one defined by its vitality, celebrated last summer. It was a successful vibrancy, and equity. A place where all Capital Campaign that has enhanced and can experience the best of times. reimagined HRS’s home for decades to come. It was overflowing workshops filled Thank you for your continued interest with homeowners of all backgrounds, and intersection in this special work! sharing one thing in common – an eagerness to learn and to do-it-themselves. Joel Ruiter | Executive Director The following pages reveal many more “best of times” expressions of our work. I invite The 40/20 Capital Campaign has provided you to take a few moments to read, reflect, much needed resources to expand our teaching space to meet record attendance. STRONGER HOMES MAJOR & MINOR REPAIR PROGRAMS 1725 HOMES IMPACTED 1525 health & safety jobs completed 292 furnaces repaired or replaced 171 roofs repaired or replaced 94 electrical repairs OUR CLIENTS 33 main drain cleanouts 106 water heaters repaired or replaced RACE 460 general plumbing repairs African American 39% ACCESS RAMPS Hispanic 7% 29 home access ramps built Other 5% 11 donated by Home Builders White 49% Association members BATHROOM MODIFICATIONS 32 bathrooms modified Female – headed household 45% 41 new toilets installed Clients aged 60 or greater 63% 45 safety grab bars installed Veteran households served 76 Average length in current home 24 years Average Income $21,487 2020 Resourceful Homeowner Award recipient: Jesus Quintanilla STRONGER HOMEOWNERS FINANCIAL COUNSELING & EDUCATION “ HOMEOWNER’s 28 one-on-one counseling sessions 18 successful care resolutions NET WORTH 25 averted foreclosures 381 “attendees” joined a financial workshop THE FIX-IT SCHOOL 84 hands-on training workshops held 46X 1122 total “attendees” joined a workshop GREatER THAN RENTER’s.” 6 women-only workshops held 19 off-site venues hosted an HRS workshop - Federal Reserve 2016 HOME MAINTENANCE CHECK-UPS 28 inspections completed METROPOLITAN GRAND RAPIDS 42% inspections completed for seniors 90% inspections revealed a critical health HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE BY RACE repair or safety hazard 350 inspections have been completed since program inception in 2015 BLACK 33% REMODELING TOGETHER 29 new DIY kitchens completed 16 projects assisted by HRS WHITE 78% remodeling coach 247 kitchens have been completed since 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% program inception in 2011 - Redin Q-1 2020 STORIES FROM HOME: BUILDING STRONG HOMES The Powell’s mobile home sits a stone’s in went a much-safer step-in shower stall throw from the noise-reducing wall that including a grab bar. Out went the old toilet stretches along East-bound M-6 in and in came a higher-sitting, ADA compliant Cutlerville. For Mr. Powell, living with reduced one. Out went the old, unlevel deck with mobility has made certain aspects of the uneven stairs, and in came a flat, smooth home more of a challenge in recent years. deck with evenly measured stair heights. The home’s original bathroom was a problem. So too, the weathered 8’ x 14’ Mrs. Powell’s thank you note after the deck front deck that not only ran up hill but led to said it well, “Thank you so much picking that stairs with no two step heights that matched. crew, giving us the blessing of a level, safe Between the high tub lip to navigate and deck/home entrance and getting the large the deck’s trip hazards, each day brought a part done before my husband’s birthday! It is series of risks that many of us rarely consid- such a huge difference and will mean many er. Will taking a shower or running an errand less trips to the ER!” result in a trip to the emergency room today? Her words were a great reminder of how Fortunately, here in Kent County, folks like we measure our impact in “outputs” and the Powells have a resource to call on who “outcomes.” The outputs of a new toilet, can eliminate that question. shower stall, grab bar, and rebuilt front deck produced the outcomes of less pain and With the help of our amazing partners at suffering, lowered community medical costs, Disability Advocates and Zaskowski Builders, and a dignified life – a life where regular HRS was able to oversee a complete hygiene is assured and the thought of a modification of the Powell’s bathroom and a trip for a birthday ice cream cone brings joy total overhaul of the problematic deck and rather than fear. stairs. Out went the dangerous old tub and stories FROM HOME: BUILDING STRONG HOMEOWNERS When Karen Pearson bought her home in the Karen had deemed 2020 as “the year of the wasting little time in installing a lovely ceramic Boston Square neighborhood 12 years ago, kitchen” and had placed her order with HRS tile backsplash. Through Karen’s partnership she was ready! “I like to do projects, to make for new cabinets and countertops back in with HRS, 2020 did prove to be the “year of things look better. As a renter, I was getting early February. “Things were going good!” the kitchen.” And word on the street is... the tired of watching all that work go to the she reflected, “But then came COVID-19 landlord is quite pleased! benefit the landlord after I left,” she said. “I which was followed by an unexpected health knew I needed to become the homeowner!” scare and surgery.” The home she landed on is a cozy one-story But Karen is determined, and she never home built back in 1918. It had witnessed a took her eye off the prize. The surgery, lot of turnover in the years before Karen’s subsequent tests, and follow-ups all went arrival. An internet search showed 11 different well, and with her cabinet order having deed entries recorded on the City website been the last set produced just before from 1994 through 2007 including a sheriff’s COVID mitigation had shut down the HRS sale the year before Karen purchased the cabinet shop, she was eager to proceed. home. She has brought stability to this home She reached out to HRS Self-Help Program and neighborhood. Manager, Mike Zamarron, and they worked together on a plan for all involved to safely Karen has worked steadily over the last move forward. dozen years on various home improvements utilizing both the HRS Repair Program at She painted up the cabinets and installed times, but also regularly taking advantage them with the guidance of HRS Remodeling of the HRS Fix-It School Workshops as well. Coach, Steve Sielaff. Soon, beautiful new After completing a bathroom project in 2019, countertops were installed with Karen THE IMPACT OF RESOURCES | VOLUNTEERS 4% 6% 6% 3% 23% 5% 23% 2019/20 39% 2019/20 22% SOURCES 11% USES 20% 7% 26% 5% WE ARE PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN AWARDED $100,000 $ $ FROM THE FIFTH THIRD 2,765,795 2,765,795 BANK FOUNDATION’s STRENGTHENING OUR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FINANCIAL COacHING COMMUNITIES PROGRAM. CLIENTS REMODELING TOGETHER STATE & COUNTY FUNDS WEATHERIZATION & FURNacES This very generous support became the lead FEDERAL HUD FUNDS HOME ACCESS RAMPS gift in our capital campaign honoring HRS’ OTHER FED FUNDS (PPP) BATH MODIFICATIONS 40 years of service and 20 years at 1100 S. DONATED GOODS & SERVICES HEaltH & SaFETY REpaIRS Division.