When she became unable to work, everything changed.
After two car accidents in 2012, just six months apart, Sheila was left disabled. And she’d moved into her current Snellville, Georgia home from Detroit, Michigan – where she was born and raised – just two years earlier.
Without family nearby, and a lack of income, her home repair needs piled up.
“Since I couldn’t work, I was not able to keep up on the repairs of my home,” she said. “I needed work done on my deck – the railing and some floor boards were loose and rotting and the steps needed to be replaced.”
Not only did this prevent Sheila from the simple enjoyment and benefits of fresh air and sunshine, it was also a safety hazard. She couldn’t even sit out on her deck.
Sheila needed some help, and through a referral, she was introduced to Home Repairs Ministries.
“Because I didn’t have money for the repairs, I spoke to Gwinnett County and United Way to ask about agencies that could do the repairs for free,” Sheila said. “They sent me a short list of nonprofit agencies that they said could possibly help me. And one on the list was Home Repairs Ministries.”
After applying for help, the Home Repairs team came out and tore down her deck’s old lattice, replaced deck boards and steps and even built a new railing. But the help meant more than just a place to sit in her home; it was an encouragement to Sheila for Home Repairs to have been the one helping her.
“[To the volunteers], thank you for all you did to make my deck safe. Home Repairs has made a huge difference in my life, because now I can enjoy sitting on my deck. They’re a blessing, and I appreciate everything they have done for me,” Sheila said.
“The volunteers were super nice to me, and they worked very hard on my deck repairs; I’m very well pleased!
And the ultimate proof of how happy Sheila is with the job Home Repairs did? She’s told other people about their work.
“For seniors or disabled people, this ministry really makes a big difference. I’ve told other seniors that need repairs done on their homes about Home Repairs Ministries and the work they did on my house,” she said.
