As we reflect on the past Independence Day, we are reminded of the importance of maintaining independence, regardless of age. Home Repairs for Good, formerly known as NeighborLink Indianapolis, witnesses the pride, security and independence a home offers its residents.
Our organization, operating for a decade, provides home repairs at no cost to low-income older adults and persons with disabilities who own their home in Marion County. We are not just witnesses to the pride of half a century of homeownership, but also to the unique challenges it poses for older adults and those with disabilities, especially in maintaining their older homes.
As we celebrate our nation’s independence and adopt a new name, we can’t help but feel the pressure to shine the spotlight on the homeowners who are looking ahead, not at the memories they plan on making but on those homeowners whose faces have already been etched by the memories made.
Home Repairs for Good is an aging-in-place partner. We’ve even been called a “Godsend” a time or two. By providing needed repairs and continued service for homeowners, we are supporting older adults and individuals with disabilities in our community in their desire to stay in and keep their homes.
Our mission is clear: to help older adults and individuals with disabilities age in place safely and with dignity. We do this by providing critical home repairs at no cost to those homeowners. We do not limit the number of times we can help a homeowner either; most of our ability falls on the funding available and volunteers willing to give of their time.
As the saying goes, “It takes a village.” We, at Home Repairs for Good, cannot achieve our mission alone. We rely on the support of our community, from volunteers who directly and indirectly assist with repairs, to donors who contribute to our mission and organization. For many, these repairs are not just about the physical fixes, the plumbing repairs or siding replacements, they are about preserving the family hub, a grandma’s house, the place where three generations worth of memories have been built.
AARP continuously finds that most older adults want to age in place. Even our own Central Indiana State on Aging Report finds the majority wanting to age in place while simultaneously worrying about being able to remain. Living independently in the home you’ve spent your life in should be something worth supporting. Keeping Home Repairs for Good able to bridge that gap and provide this much-needed service is essential for our community.
Over the years, the impact of our work has been tangible to anyone who’s been a part of it. We’ve seen first-hand the profound relief and deep gratitude of homeowners who no longer have to choose between their safety and homes. By addressing critical repairs and extending the house’s lifespan, we secure another older adult’s most affordable housing option, the home they own.
Our efforts, however, are part of a broader movement on “affordable housing.” In cities across the country, it’s becoming increasingly necessary to view the solutions to an affordable housing crisis beyond the production of new. Preservation WITH production. We can stabilize an older adult’s small home with $10,000 – $15,000 and, in that process, secure that home within the affordable housing stock of our community for years to come. Even in the most frugal calculations, a new housing unit could not be constructed for that amount.
Rebuilding Together, a fellow home preservation organization, found that every dollar invested in repair work generated $2.84 in “social value.” Of this value, $1.32 resulted from saved expenses for Medicare and Medicaid thanks to reduced falls and hospitalizations, fewer fire-related injuries, less exposure to lead, less stress and depression, and reduced use of assisted living facilities.
Home repairs don’t just benefit the singular homeowner or even only extend to her immediate family. Results from a home repair study in Philadelphia, PA, demonstrated a correlation between home repair and crime reduction. Providing critical home repairs in often disinvested areas is also beneficial for the community.
Independence is more than just owning a house; it’s about creating a space that fosters security and dignity. As we think about the true meaning of the Fourth of July, let’s lift up the older homeowners working hard to retain their independence as they age. Together, we can ensure that home remains a place where everyone can thrive regardless of age or ability.
Home Repairs for Good, formerly NeighborLink Indianapolis, is both a 501c3 and general contractor and has been providing home repairs at no cost to homeowners 62 and older and those with disabilities in Marion County since 2013. Home repairs are completed by in-house staff, workforce development trainees, volunteers, and when necessary, subcontractors. The organization is funded through donations, grants and volunteer contributions. To connect with the organization, visit homerepairsforgood.org.
