For 25 years, Judy has raised children, welcomed grandchildren and built family memories in her Gwinnett County house. But now the place where she’s built decades of memories no longer feels like home.
Life grew more difficult when a severe lung disease forced Judy to end her 35-year career and resort to a fixed income to cover her bills. Then a recent flood left Judy in crisis after she drained her savings to protect her and her daughter’s health.
“We were trying to handle [the damage] ourselves and clean it all up, but it grew mold,” Judy explained. “I had to have a mold [remediation] company come out and take care of it.”
Though the mold has been remediated, payment for these services and other needed home repairs still hang over Judy’s head.
“My back door is also rotted out. I bought a new door off Facebook Marketplace, but it’s been in the garage because I haven’t had the money to hire somebody to install it.”
Due to lingering damage from the flood in Judy’s bedroom and primary bathroom, she has to sleep on the couch.
“There is no carpet in my room, and half the sheetrock is gone [in the bedroom and bathroom]” Judy explained. “There’s no door on the wall, and I just don’t feel comfortable in there.”
On top of this growing list of interior and exterior repairs, Judy’s washing machine, dryer and HVAC unit are all malfunctioning.
“I’ve just had one nightmare after the other,” she shared. “I can’t do a lot because I’m on oxygen 24 hours a day.
“I get out of breath trying to fix something, and I can’t bend down because it takes my breath away.”
But when Judy’s brother-in-law recommended she contact Home Repairs Ministries, she found a glimmer of hope amid her crisis.
In September, Home Repairs’ Project Manager Kyle visited the home for an inspection. With big ongoing projects and a limited budget, he had to place Judy on the waitlist until the new year.
Even though Judy has been waiting months for home repairs, she’s still thankful for whatever help Home Repairs will be able to provide.
“I’m just grateful and appreciative that they even considered doing any kind of work on my home,” she shared. “If they can come and just fix one door, that’s more than was done yesterday.”
As donors consider making their year-end giving pledges, Judy hopes they’ll consider giving to Home Repairs Ministries and helping her and others like her.
“I thoroughly appreciate anyone who’s donating. It makes a huge difference because [homeowners] can breathe a little better when you know your home is not going to fall apart even further,” Judy said.
“I would just like to feel comfortable in my home.”
When you help us raise $50,000, you’re repairing Judy’s bedroom and bathroom so she has a place to sleep again and making her house feel like a home again, PLUS helping us provide critical repairs for four other homeowners.
This season, will you adopt this homeowner and cover the cost of her critical home repairs?
