Habitat’s work goes far beyond building houses. We secure futures and strengthen our community through our Home Improvement Programs. We provide critical repairs, exterior improvements, appliance replacements, and other upgrades for low-income homeowners. These projects reduce utility costs, improve safety, and enhance quality of life—especially for seniors, people with disabilities, and homeowners facing financial challenges. Many of our most common projects include accessibility upgrades, as well as replacing furnaces and hot water heaters during our cold Michigan winters. The demand for these services continues to grow as the population ages, as do the homes they live in.
Grab bars are a small upgrade that can make a huge difference for aging homeowners to grow old safely in the homes they are so proud to own.
When Habitat was contacted by Ypsilanti Township about Mr. Toole needing some assistance, three of our wonderful Habitat volunteers joined forces with our construction team, Home Improvement Program, and ReStore to help. The homeowner, Mr. Toole, worked for General Motors for 25 years and is now retired. He has difficulty walking, often uses a walker, and requires a ramp to go to and from his house. One morning, he woke to find that someone had not only driven through his front yard, but had demolished his metal wheelchair ramp. Luckily, the Habitat ReStore had recently received a metal ramp as a donation. Habitat used parts from the donated ramp to repair Mr. Toole’s new ramp to working order and make it safe for him to come and go from his home.
