Giving Tuesday Impact Series: A safe home for Vonnie
"I just love H.O.M.E. and the services you provide for me and my friends. We don't know who we'd turn to without you!"
Vonnie is a 74-year old woman who relies on our Upkeep & Repair program to keep her home safe.
Vonnie first called us when she needed the lock on her door repaired. She was so grateful for a service that she could trust and afford. She was sure to tell her friends about the program so that they could get the help they needed too.
When she needed electrical repairs made, she knew just who to call. She even requested Andre, since he had done such a great job on her first repair. Vonnie knew she could count on him. This year, we replaced her water heater and fixed her gas line.
These repairs give Vonnie peace of mind, comfort, and are essential to her safety in her own home. They can also be expensive. That's where H.O.M.E. comes in.
Like all of the clients we serve, Vonnie gets by on a low-income and would struggle to pay a market rate repair service to keep her home safe.
"I don't know what I'd do without H.O.M.E."
Older adults like Vonnie who are living on fixed incomes often make difficult decisions about whether to make urgent repairs in their home or to pay for other essential needs like food, electricity, or medications.
Because of donations that we receive, repairs made by our skillfull and trustworthy Home Repair Specialists are affordable for low-income senior homeowners.
Seniors pay only a $25 service fee and for the supplies needed for the repair, which can be paid in a no-interest payment plan if necessary. There is no cost for labor, which is often the most costly part of making home repairs.
For a complicated plumbing case that we did for Vonnie, our Specialists spent nearly 27 hours working in her home. At a reasonable rate of $55 per hour, that would have cost $1,485 plus the cost of tools, supplies, and any other fees. That certainly would have been out of reach for Vonnie.
Vonnie is so appreciative of the support that we receive so she can stay safe in her home. She says, "You're program is so important. I just can't say enough good things about it."
How you can help
We rely on donations from individuals to keep seniors like Vonnie safe in their homes.
This year H.O.M.E. has joined #ILGive to celebrate Giving Tuesday. Will you mark your calendar for November 29, 2016 to help us reach our goal of raising $20,000 to make a big impact for seniors in 2017?
As a bonus, Bruce Otto, our Executive Director, has agreed to wear a zany Cubs-inpired suit and a hipster-styled wig if we meet our goal. Watch the video here.
You can follow us on Facebook for updates, or sign up to be an #ILGive champion for H.O.M.E.!
Or, donate today.
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To find out more about H.O.M.E. and to provide support to low-income seniors, please visit our website or like us on Facebook!
This post is part of our series to celebrate Giving Tuesday, which will take place this year on November 29, 2016. The idea behind #GivingTuesday is to kickoff the holiday-giving season, in the same way that Black Friday and Cyber Monday kickoff the holiday-shopping season.
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