Hidden among the majestic mountains and beautiful vistas of the Swannanoa Valley are neighbors in need—an elderly woman who is unable to enter or exit her home safely, her steps rotted and missing rails; a family of six with inadequate heating, their HVAC system failed years ago; a disabled veteran who can no longer bathe in his own home, the bathroom floor rotted by leaky pipes.
Approximately 15% of the Swannanoa Valley population lives below the poverty level, many of whom live ... Leia mais
Hidden among the majestic mountains and beautiful vistas of the Swannanoa Valley are neighbors in need—an elderly woman who is unable to enter or exit her home safely, her steps rotted and missing rails; a family of six with inadequate heating, their HVAC system failed years ago; a disabled veteran who can no longer bathe in his own home, the bathroom floor rotted by leaky pipes.
Approximately 15% of the Swannanoa Valley population lives below the poverty level, many of whom live in substandard housing. Struggling to afford necessities, these neighbors are also challenged by the cost of home ownership and general maintenance. Unable to adequately care for their home, these residents may live in harsh or unsafe conditions; conditions that threaten their well-being.
Hammer and Heart works to address urgent home repair needs for the poorest of our neighbors. Unlike Home Preservation (Habitat for Humanity's home repair division which provides financial loans and volunteer labor to meet any home repair need), we serve individuals and families who have urgent repair needs and are unable to afford the cost of the repair. We meet the need by raising funds/securing grants, then offering free materials and professional and volunteer labor to qualifying residents.
This strategy allows us to address urgent repairs, respond nimbly to urgent needs and remove the financial burden for the financially at risk.
• The majority of the folks we hope to assist will be elderly, disabled or
lower income homeowners.
• The Swannanoa Valley community (just east of Asheville, NC) provides the eyes, financial
resources and labor we need to find and help these neighbors
• We are hoping to coordinate our efforts with local churches, law
enforcement agencies, social services, building contractors and
other nonprofits currently serving our community. We need folks who
are in our community, who can see the home repair issues and send
them our way.
• By meeting urgent repair needs—heating issues, electrical concerns,
plumbing problems, leaky roofs, accessibility issues, etc.—we are
alleviating suffering, creating a safer home environment, keeping
folks in their homes (where they want to be) and improving the value
of their home (often, their main investment).
• We want to serve the whole person—not just fix their home. We try
to coordinate our efforts with other organizations in the community
that are addressing mental health issues, clothing and food needs,
spiritual needs, poverty and homelessness.
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