There are situations no homeowner ever wants to encounter: a growing damp spot on a ceiling, signs of black mold on the walls or a puddle on the floor. They’re signs of plumbing issues that could be costly, complicated and beyond do-it-yourself repair.
Hunter Phillips, who leads Holtkamp HVAC & Plumbing’s plumbing division, sees problems like these every day and knows the stress they can bring.
“We spend so much time at home, and if you’ve got issues going on, it can make that sometimes feel like a burden, and nobody wants to feel that way,” he said.
For homeowners who can’t afford to make the repairs, Hunter said that burden is even more acute and can leave people feeling hopeless. As part of a faith-based company that was started by his father-in-law, Hunter wanted to help where he could.
When he met Home Repairs Ministries’ Heather Loveridge and Kyle Van Nus at a Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce meeting in early 2025, he knew he had found an organization that aligned with his and his company’s values.
“It was really a great opportunity to partner and find a solution for that homeowner who really had nowhere else to go if it wasn’t for [Home Repairs],” Hunter said.
Holtkamp’s partnership brought a new capacity to help. Previously, Home Repairs has only been able to do light plumbing work with volunteers – small repairs like replacing a faucet or a toilet or fixing a simple undersink leak.
“But we are seeing more and more major plumbing issues that require a licensed plumber,” said Heather Loveridge, executive director. “Hunter and the rest of the Holtkamp team allow us to quickly and effectively help homeowners in dire situations. It’s more than that, though – we know they care for and treat our homeowners like we do. It’s been a great partnership that we’re excited to see continue to grow.”
One of the first projects Holtkamp helped with required replacing every pipe in one woman’s Norcross home. Water was pouring from the ceiling.
“Most people would think that space is unlivable,” he said. “She had to have buckets sitting out, and it was just ruining the home.”
A repair like that can cost hundreds or sometimes even thousands of dollars — more than the homeowner could afford. And more than Home Repairs could spend…until recently. A grant from Gwinnett County for water-related repairs has allowed Home Repairs to help homeowners with plumbing repairs that weren’t feasible before. The grant allows Home Repairs to cover the cost of the work, knowing it was done correctly.
“A year ago we couldn’t do repairs like these due to cost and not having the plumbing partners to make them happen either, ” Heather said. “As we continue to grow our network of community partners like Holtkamp, we become even more effective in fulfilling our mission to serve vulnerable homeowners.”
Hunter is involved in every project Holtkamp assists Home Repairs with, from assessing a family’s plumbing situation to being hands-on. He’s thorough, ensuring that a homeowner’s problem is fixed right the first time and there won’t be any more issues in the future.
“Being able to see some of this impact we’re having has been amazing; people’s entire home experiences are just completely changing,” he said. “The whole goal is to help as many people as possible and really impact their lives.”
For Hunter, the partnership between Holtkamp and Home Repairs is all about obedience to God and not profit.
“A big part of what Jesus Christ tells us is to give to people who are less fortunate,” Hunter said. “It’s just truly a blessing. And when you have a partner that feels the same way, and their faith is strong in the same way, it’s unstoppable.”