About the program

Habitat for Humanity's A Brush with Kindness is a program serving low-income homeowners who struggle to maintain the exterior of their homes. The program helps preserve homeownership by partnering with homeowners struggling to restore and maintain a safe and decent place to live. When basic expenses exceed income month after month, home maintenance is the usual casualty. Years of deferred maintenance can cause a downward spiral of home deterioration and unsafe living conditions. The program is a holistic approach to providing affordable housing and assisting communities as well as families.

How we do it

• Groups of volunteers help homeowners with exterior maintenance. This typically includes painting, minor exterior repairs, landscaping, weatherization and exterior clean-up.
• Habitat selects partner families based on income, need and willingness to partner.
• In addition to volunteers, Habitat uses donated materials and takes no profit for their services.
• Payments made by the homeowners are placed in a revolving fund to help A Brush with Kindness serve others in need.

A Brush with Kindness ensures that families live in safe and well-maintained homes. The program is designed to revitalize the appearance of the neighborhood, encourage connections within the community, and most importantly, help preserve affordable housing stock.