Critical Repair Program: Debra’s Story of Shelter and Stability

At Habitat for Humanity, we bring people together to build homes, communities and hope.  This mission comes to life every day, not just through new construction, but through critical home repair projects that help our neighbors gain and maintain stability, safety, and independence. 

We recently partnered with Debra, a homeowner who has lived in her house for 21 years. Like many seniors in our community, Debra found herself facing housing challenges outside her budget.  After a series of heavy rains with water leaking into her home, Debra reached out to Habitat. 

The Nightmare of Inadequate Housing 

Before Debra reached out to Habitat’s Aging in Place program, her home was suffering severe damage. She recounted the daily stress caused by the lack of adequate shelter, describing the situation as a nightmare. When heavy rain fell, she worried constantly about water entering her home. 

"I had buckets, trash cans filled up with water," Debra says. This required her to be constantly "emptying all that stuff". Because she couldn't afford the fix, her need for a new roof and home repairs to alleviate critical health, life, and safety issues was clear. 

Building a Better Housing Ecosystem 

Habitat Worked with Debra to replace her roof and repair the critical water damage. This repair was made possible with the generous support from Lowe’s Home Improvement. Thanks to Lowe’s Debra is now safe and stable with a new roof. 

Debra shared her deep gratitude directly with our partners and teams. She says, “Lowe's, I'm so thankful that you guys donated so I can have a roof and no more rain in my house”. 

Upon completion of the work, Debra told our team that she was "very happy". We saw this partnership firsthand, as she says, "I got to shake all of their hands and give them a hug and talk to him". She describes the feeling now as "just beautiful". 

Stability Starts with a Home 

Debra now has the peace of mind that comes with adequate shelter. She no longer has to worry about rain coming into her house. This security reinforces the idea that home is the foundation on which we all build our lives. 

For Debra, the roof is everything: "Without the roof, it's nothing. If you got a house with no roof, it's nothing". 

This repair represents more than just a fix. Debra is hoping that the foundation, along with the new roof, will last forever as long as she lives, so she "can leave it to [her] grandkids". They are, she notes, "so happy". 

Together, with partners like Lowe’s Home Improvement, we are building a stronger, safer, region.