Socially Distanced Volunteers Revitalize Homes for Low-Income Families

September 4 — A dozen small groups of corporate, civic and faith-based volunteers have discovered a safe way to make a difference as they prepare to revitalize 12 low-income homes with HomeFront this Saturday, September 12th. Community helpers will focus exclusively on exterior repairs, addressing dangerous steps and walkways, rotting decks, yard cleanups and homes long overdue for fresh coats of paint. The local non-profit, HomeFront, is providing N-95 dust masks, rubber gloves, goggles, work gloves and hand sanitizers for all participating volunteers. By the end of the day, persons with disabilities, older adults, single-parent households and low-income families will benefit from the work of these socially distanced Samaritans.

[Photo, B-roll and interview opportunities are available with beneficiaries and volunteer leaders at locations listed below.]

This outpouring is all part of HomeFront’s “Safer at Home” campaign to improve living conditions for 60 local families this year who are directly or indirectly in the crosshairs of the pandemic whether through susceptibility to the illness or loss of employment. COVID required cancellation of HomeFront Day this past May for the first time in 32 years. Local outcry for help with repairs has only multiplied since then.

In the words of HomeFront’s Board Chair, Kenneth Wiegand, “‘Stay Home, Stay Safe’ has been a familiar directive for all of us, but it has a slightly different meaning for the low-income families whose very homes are in hazardous, unhealthy shape. Our ‘Safer at Home’ commitment means bringing relief to those hurt by the first wave of this pandemic and improving the homes of those most at risk for future outbreaks.”

Thanks to the generosity of The Home Depot Foundation, four large-scale projects will benefit local veterans. This modified approach to volunteer home repair is the second installment of HomeFront’s Safer at Home campaign. Since March, more than 27 local families have already received essential construction aid from HomeFront through its Critical Pro Repair (CPR) initiative. Skilled HomeFront staff have teamed up with one or two pro volunteers to deliver crucial exterior repairs, such as wheelchair ramp installations, step and walkway overhauls and deck repairs to struggling families.

The collective compassion of hands on volunteers, product contributors, foundations and other donors brings HomeFront to the mark of more than 3,000 homes revitalized in program history, delivering $50 million of service where needed most. HomeFront is a community-based program dedicated to keeping low-income homeowners in their homes with an improved quality of life through substantial repairs completed at no cost to them. More information on HomeFront can be found online at: www.homefrontprogram.org.

Media Contact
Sean O’Brien, HomeFront
O: (203) 658-9664 C: (203) 803-9772
sobrien@homefrontprogram.org

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