“It means the world to me. It gives me the actual ability to have my son come over without me having to physically help him up the steps and everything else,” says Robert, who was able to build a new ramp for his home with the support of Habitat and the Wells Fargo Foundation.
For Aretha, the accessibility features in her Habitat home “make a big difference” for her and her two children, 23-year-old Devin and 22-year-old Zacaya.
The nationwide launch aims to help families and older adults live more affordably and retain homes for future generations.
In January 2017, a former corporate executive and 32-year Habitat volunteer from Bloomington, Indiana, hitched up a camper to his truck with a goal of volunteering with Habitat in all 50 states — in a year’s time.
It had been a year since Ernie, an outgoing 87-year-old U.S. Army veteran, had been outside on his own. After months of this kind of physical isolation, and months of encouragement from his social worker, Ernie applied for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell’s Critical Home Repair Program.
Home provides a strong sense of security and comfort — this is especially true for older adults. In Georgia alone, hundreds of homeowners across the state have partnered with their local Habitat to preserve their homes and their independence.
Binh was overjoyed to learn that she would partner with Habitat for Humanity Vietnam to design and build a home that would be accessible and have enough space for her and her young daughter to live independently.