Book of Dreams: Habitat offers ‘hand up, not handout’ to improve homes for Sacramento veterans
Rick Sanchez spent a recent December morning in his yard wrapping foam sleeves on water pipes to protect them from a forecast freeze. Nearby, his Yorkie, Joey, dressed in a winter sweater, trotted along the fence-line on squirrel patrol.
Sanchez, who is 71 and a Vietnam-era Army veteran, loves his little house in south Sacramento. But the property was suffering from numerous maintenance needs, and Sanchez, a retiree on fixed income, did not have the necessary funds to make improvements.
Until last month. That’s when Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento and Home Depot offered him a Veteran’s Day present.
Over the course of slightly more than a week, two dozen volunteers showed up at his house to make a series of upgrades and repairs. They repainted the house exterior, installed new windows, built fences, installed a pergola, added new deck chairs and put in drought-tolerant landscaping. The new windows came courtesy of Home Depot Home.
Sanchez now has several peach trees growing in the yard. And Joey, who works part time as a therapy dog with Sanchez on nursing home visits, has a big new lawn to call his own.
Sanchez is more than pleased. He has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder over the years, and says the experience with Habitat for Humanity and Home Depot made it feel as if the community had come together to help lift a cloud from over his head.
“I’m grateful,” Sanchez said. “They were great. It felt like a burden off me. I had saved some money, and I pitched in, but it’s expensive.”
Habitat for Humanity is a 47-year-old nonprofit organization that focuses on building and repairing affordable housing for people in need worldwide.
This holiday season, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento is looking for some help of its own via the Sacramento Bee’s Book of Dreams community donations campaign.
Habitat is asking for $13,185 in donations from Bee readers to apply to its Veteran Repairs Program. That dollar figure represents the average recent price for home repair projects that Habitat for Humanity has undertaken. That’s enough money to replace a heating and air conditioning system, or make fundamental structural repairs on an aging house.
‘More hope, more homes and more community’
The Sacramento chapter is among many that have special programs to help house American military veterans. The local chapter’s goal this year is to rehabilitate 100 houses for needy homeowners in the region, with hopes that about 25 of those houses will be for military veterans.
In many cases, the focus will be on critical repairs, such as new roofs and new heating and air conditioning systems. Those repairs are too expensive for many on fixed incomes, especially recently with escalating costs in general for home repairs and upgrades.
Habitat’s funding request is modest. But it will have ripple effects. The more houses Habitat can repair, the more word will get out to other potential long-term donors, and the more word will get out as well to needy veterans.
It’s the type of work that is at the heart of the Habitat for Humanity mission, which is to help members of the community who are both deserving and in need.
“No one understands what it means to do more for others than our nation’s courageous veterans and service members,” said Kimberly Coley, Habitat Sacramento chief advancement and marketing officer. “This reality guides Habitat’s mission to build more – more hope, more homes and more community.
“We recognize that veterans deserve more support year-round, without delay - and we are committed to being there for them when they need us.”
“Our mutual interest with our community partners in providing veterans and their families with a hand up in life means veterans have the stability and freedom to accomplish dreams only possible because of a secure home,” she said. “We owe our veterans’ willingness to keep our nation secure, a comfortable, welcoming home.”
Reach out to veterans
The Veteran Repairs Program, notably, is a “hand up,” not a “handout.” Veterans are required to pay for roughly 20 percent of the cost of the repairs and upgrades. If the veterans are physically able, Habitat asks them to add some sweat equity during the repairs.
Among those who may be in line for help at some point is Johnny Cornejo, an Army veteran who raised several family generations in a modest West Sacramento home. His old roof has leaks and his back fence was partly blown down during last year’s winter storms.
“My home means a lot to me,” said Cornejo, 85, a former cannery worker and roofer. “If I was a couple years younger, I’d go up and fix the roof myself.”
His modest home is a multi-generational family gathering spot. Cornejo has 18 grandchildren and great grandchildren. At the moment, the roof repair costs, even with Habitat support, are beyond his means. But his son, Paul, said recently the family could potentially apply to Habitat for the fence repairs.
Habitat for Humanity is fortunate to benefit from numerous community volunteers who have construction and technical skills.
In its application to the Book of Dreams, the organization wrote: “Habitat’s work is only possible because members of our community come together to do more for those who deserve it most. This year we would like to join you in making the dreams of local veterans come true by completing home repairs to ensure their service goes recognized and their holiday is warm, comfortable and memorable.”
Habitat, meanwhile, is attempting to establish more formal relationships in the community, such as the one with Home Depot and Book of Dreams, to augment the veteran program with expertise, materials and most importantly, stronger financial support.
At the same time, Habitat is reaching out to the local veteran community to publicize its services, and encourage more veterans to apply.
“Sometimes it is hard to say you need help,” said Coley, Habitat’s local spokeswoman. “We want to encourage veterans who are interested and in need to apply for the program.”
The program covers veterans who live in Sacramento and Yolo counties, own their own home, are on fixed income or employed in low-income jobs, and have the wherewithal to chip in some funds.
Coley offered a message of appreciation to Bee readers in advance: “Thank you,” she wrote, “for your generous support and partnership.”
Book of Dreams
The request: Habitat for Humanity wants to help veterans make home improvements and repairs.
The cost: $13,185.
