Veterans Repair Corps
Patuxent Habitat for Humanity (PHH) is pleased to announce it has been selected for a second year in a row to participate in the Habitat for Humanity Veterans Repair Corps program partnered with The Home Depot Foundation. The Repair Corps program is offered to U.S. veterans and their families to make needed housing repairs in our community.
For more information, see: http://smnewsnet.com/archives/22011
Habitat for Humanity Repair Corps Overview
Patuxent Habitat for Humanity is one of 84 Habitat affiliates selected to participate in the Repair Corps designed to help veterans thrive by creating healthier, safer home environments through critical repairs and improvements. Each Repair Corps award will be up to $15,000. Projects that will be funded included interior or exterior work -- from insulation and weather stripping to the installation of wheelchair ramps and renovated bathrooms and doorways to accommodate disabled veterans. Larger repairs such as roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and structural improvements will also be available.
The program is designed under the same model as new homes built for Habitat families where the veteran will repay the zero interest loan necessary for these repairs, which is then deposited into a revolving fund to assist additional families in need of decent housing. The amount to be repaid will be on a sliding scaled based on family income. Habitat for Humanity’s Repair Corps is a projected funded by The Home Depot Foundation with $2.7 million cash and in-kind gift card donations. It is part of a three-year $30 million investment The Home Depot Foundation is making to multiple organizations to ease the burden of military veterans by repairing and renovating homes and public facilities for military veterans.
Who Can Participate?
A “veteran” is defined as a resident living in a home who has served in the U.S. military. Veterans that are residents in St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties who have received an honorable or general discharge and are either wounded warriors, disabled veterans and/or are of low to moderate incomes are eligible. Patuxent Habitat for Humanity is accepting applications. If you would like to participate, we encourage you to call 301.863.6227 or email Colleen Johnson-Malebranche at colleen@patuxenthabitat.org.
Repair Corps Projects
Patuxent Habitat for Humanity completed its first Repair Corps project and dedicated the home of Marine LCPL Caleb Getscher of Chaptico, Maryland, on August 25, 2012. Donors, elected officials, volunteers and community stakeholders joined LCPL Getscher and his family along with the PHH Board and staff at the dedication ceremony. LCPL Getscher was gravely injured in Afghanistan on June 18, 2011 when he stepped on an IED. He is undergoing medical treatment and extensive rehabilitation at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Repair Corps retrofitted Caleb’s home for Caleb to enjoy mobility without significant limitations. Hours of volunteer labor from the Patuxent River Naval Air Station military personnel, led by Matt Kulp of Galaxy Homes, and many steadfast volunteers completed an addition onto the house to include a bathroom, living space and wheelchair access. This project costs exceeded the grant, but a solicitation from local organizations successfully raised the funds needed. The Semper Fi Fund stepped in with a grant to complete the project. “We were overwhelmed by the community support for this young man,” said Don Parsons, Chairman, PHH Board of Directors.” We are very pleased to complete this project for Caleb and his family.”
Local news stories on our Repair Corps program:
http://www.somdnews.com/article/20120829/NEWS/708299760/0/southernMaryland&template=southernMaryland
http://www.thebaynet.com/news/index.cfm/fa/viewstory/story_ID/29216
Patuxent Habitat for Humanity’s target goal is to complete at least one veteran home a month for the next year.
Watch for this site to see where we are next and what veteran family we are helping!
About The Home Depot Foundation
In 2011, The Home Depot Foundation committed $30 million over three years to nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the homes of economically disadvantaged veterans. Through Team Depot, the company's associate-led volunteer program, thousands of Home Depot associates volunteer their time and talents to positively transform neighborhoods and perform basic repairs and modifications to homes and to the facilities serving veterans with critical housing needs.
Since its formation in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $300 million to nonprofit organizations improving homes and lives in local communities. To learn more and see our associates in action, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org, follow us on Twitter @homedepotfdn, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/homedepotfoundation.
