A Big Job Well Done

Habitat for Humanity’s Neighborhood Revitalization crew’s latest completed project was their most complex undertaking to date. Several rounds of volunteers were set to work under the leadership of Daniel Gamble and Jade Napier to provide critical home repairs for local homeowners, Mattie and Albert Crawford at 2308 Stuart Street.

Not only did this job require more resources and labor to complete, it highlighted a classic housing problem when owners retire on fixed incomes and find it difficult to keep up repairs within an aging structure. As Daniel recalls, “the old fixtures in the Crawfords’ bathroom were making it dangerous for them to use, and prior repairs amounted to layers of band-aids, when what we were able to provide was a deep stabilization of the structure from within, making their bathroom safe and functional.”

The collective hours of hard work with exterior painting and kitchen floor and roof repairs all paid off in the Crawfords’ satisfaction with the results of Habitat’s investment in their property. An inventory of all repairs include a rebuilt roof structure, removal of exterior lead paint along with a new exterior paint job, wooden siding repairs, plumbing overhaul in bathroom and kitchen, rebuilt bathroom and kitchen floor, a replaced claw foot tub and sub-standard toilet to ADA toilet and walk-in shower, a new water heater, proper ventilation for dryer and bathroom, and new cabinets, countertops, and sink faucet in the kitchen.

The couple is certainly glad to have qualified and participated in the Neighborhood Revitalization program to address the critical repair needs for their home, and have been investing their reciprocal participation hours back into their community, spreading the word about the program’s value to their neighbors. When I visited the Crawford’s they just happened to be celebrating Al’s 71st birthday. The couple were so proud to show off the recent improvements and offered to share their lemon pie as well as these words: “We just had no idea how much better it would feel to be in our home with a safe bathroom and sturdy kitchen floor. These folks are good people, who know what they’re doing, and it’s made a world of difference.”

 
Enjoy Habitat’s recent video showing the wonderful reaction from the Crawfords, along with additional footage of the major change that took place in their home: