Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County Md. 

Frederick, Md. 

Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County (HHFC) was established in 1993 as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. In addition to providing affordable home ownership, Habitat recognizes the need to maintain existing homes in a safe, decent and affordable manner and has established the “A Brush with Kindness” (ABWK) program. ABWK provides subsidized home repairs to low income residents of Frederick County.

HHFC was awarded $8,500 in support of the expansion of its ABWK program to include aging in place modifications for older adults. 47% of the seniors in Frederick County are unable to make ends meet, not having enough for even a “survival budget”. In conjunction with other non-profit organizations, Habitat seeks to assist 20-older adult households with home repairs and/or modifications so older adults can safely age in place.

Ms. Myers, better known as “Cookie,” is a disabled, retired widow, who has lived in her home since 1998. With the help of a family member she maintained her home as best as possible, but as both she and her family members age, keeping up with her home has become difficult. Cookie’s mobility challenges mean she cannot stand for long periods and must use a cane to maneuver in her 3-level townhome. Volunteer crew leaders who participated in the “A Brush With Kindness” program replaced peeling floor tiles to remove a tripping hazard. The volunteers installed an additional handrail in Cookie’s stairwell to ensure she had secure handrails on each side of the stairs, replaced the front porch light giving greater visibility to her front steps at night, repaired her front door to be airtight, and replaced rotting deck boards. With a few additional minor repairs as the final touches, Cookie can now more safely move throughout her home.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County, Md. visit: www.frederickhabitat.org.