The mission of Home Repair Services is to build value and dignity by equipping low-income homeowners and their families for successful, sustained home ownership, thereby strengthening neighborhoods and our community.

Description:
Home Repair Services offers resources for low income homeowners. These include critical repairs, the construction of home access ramps, a tool library, a source of affordable building materials, home maintenance classes and foreclosure prevention and financial counseling.

We are deeply committed to sound stewardship of resources and will give priority to the needs of existing home owners while maintaining mutually supportive relationships with organizations that help develop new homeownership opportunities.

We are convinced that motivation and knowledge are as essential as critical repairs and low cost supplies. Home Repair Services will develop relationships with homeowners that affirm each person's potential and will provide learning opportunities that equip them to be more effective homeowners.

Supported by an underlying concern for social and economic justice, Home Repair Services will collaborate with the religious, social, economic and political sectors to enhance its role as an advocate in the community.

History:
Home Repair Services grew out of an emergency home repair program started by the Grand Rapids Catholic Diocese in 1974 which was then incorporated as a separate nonprofit organization in 1979. Since then, Home Repair Services has gained a reputation as a responsive and creative leader in empowering low income families to be successful homeowners.

1979 "Spun off" from the Catholic Human Development Office into a separate nonprofit organization to provide emergency home repairs and other housing services.

1983 Obtained Mechanical Contractors License to repair and replace home furnaces.

1985 Developed wheel chair ramp specialty.

1988 Took over the City of Grand Rapids CDBG funded Tool Library and Exterior Paint Program.

1991 Began Builders' Abundance to recover and redistribute surplus building materials.

1992 Began to mobilize volunteers.

1996 Began offering formal home maintenance classes.

1999 Renovated and moved into the former Mulvihill Oldsmobile building at 1100 South Division Ave.

2001 Began counseling and assisting low income home owners facing mortgage foreclosure.

2002 Served over 2,500 low income homeowners.

2004 In the last 12 months 2,878 low income homeowners used the programs of Home Repair Services.

Contact people:

Judy Jordan, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) David Jacobs, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Meri Watkins, Office Manager, (phone), (email)

Address:

1100 South Division Grand Rapids, MI 49507 (See a map)

Directions:

Home Repair Services is located at 1100 South Division Ave., just one block north of Hall Street on the east side of Division. If you need further directions, please call our office at (616) 241-2601. We are open Monday. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Division Line, 1 minute walk