Home Repair - Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat For Humanity

Aging in Place Critical Home Repair

Everyone deserves the opportunity to age with dignity in their own home and community.

One in three adults age 60+ will suffer a fall at home resulting in injury. Adaptive home modifications and repairs such as grab bars, railings, improved lighting, zero step entries, and wheelchair ramps can greatly reduce or eliminate many of these mishaps and resulting injuries.

Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity works with Pierce County homeowners age 60+ and disabled Veterans of the US Military to create a safe and livable environment where they can age independently in the comfort and stability of their own home by providing both environmental modifications and critical home repairs.

Application Information

If you meet all eligibility requirements below, please complete our general intake form. Projects from general intake are assessed in the order they are received, though you can expect a call or email within one week of submission.

While we are not able to provide emergency response, urgent projects are given priority. If you are without heat or hot water, or you need accessibility modifications in order for someone to return home from a medical facility (e.g. ramp installation or door widening), and you meet all the eligibility criteria listed below, please complete this urgent project intake form. We respond to emergency intakes within one business day.

We also suggest you check this list of repair resources for other programs that may fit your needs.

Eligibility

Requirements

To be eligible for a critical home repair under our Aging in Place program, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

Pierce County resident
Own and occupy the home
Age 60+ or a disabled Veteran of the US Military
Total gross household income below 80% Area Medium Income (see chart below)
Willingness to partner by helping with the work in some way if physically able (what Habitat calls “sweat equity”) and paying a portion of the repair costs. Repair recipients will be asked to pay 10-30% of the total repair costs. A $100 down payment is required to begin work.

What if I don’t meet the eligibility requirements?

See our Home Repair Resources list for providers, which is broken down by repair type and location. Pierce County Human Services also hosts a Home Repair Program to income eligible participants in the form of a grant.

If, after contacting these other resources, you are still unable to get the help you need, please email aip@tpc-habitat.org with an explanation of your situation and we will attempt to help where we can.

What types of projects does Habitat do?

Environmental Modifications

Home Repair 3

Environmental Modifications are physical adaptations to a home necessary to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the resident and allow them to function with greater independence. Environmental Modifications include, but are not limited to:

Access ramps
Handrails and walkways
Door widening for wheelchair or walker accessibility
Minor bathroom modifications for accessibility (e.g., grab bars)

Critical Home Repairs

Critical Home Repairs are essential repairs necessary to ensure the structural integrity and/or ongoing livability of a home. Critical Home Repairs include, but are not limited to:

Roof, gutter repair/replacement
Repair of structural defects or damage
Repair or replacement of HVAC components or hot water heaters

A Brush with Kindness

young people doing yard work

A Brush with Kindness (ABWK) brings together volunteers from service groups, churches, businesses and schools to help seniors with small exterior home preservation projects. Projects are done in a single day and can only be done if a volunteer group is found to match with them.

yard cleanup
minor exterior painting
minor fence repair

If you meet eligibility requirements for Aging in Place, please complete the ABWK Intake Form. Projects from ABWK intake are assessed in the order they are received, though you can expect a call or email within one week of submission. Habitat’s ability to do ABWK projects may vary depending on funding and volunteer availability.

Limitations

Habitat is unable to provide these services:

Major electrical
Sewer/septic repair
Pest and mold remediation
Major home reconstruction/remodeling
Work on unoccupied structures such as garages or sheds
Major plumbing modifications or repair (e.g., tub to shower conversions)

How to Contact Us?

By Phone: To reach the Aging in Place team, please call us at 253-627-5626 x 129
By Email: To reach the Aging in Place team, please email us at aip@tpc-habitat.org

Project Photo Gallery

a properly placed handrail can prevent slips and falls
repairing this client's existing wooden ramp was the best solution to allow for easier access into her home
aluminum wheelchair ramps are an accessibility solution for anyone with limited mobility, whether you use a cane, walker, wheelchair, or scooter
composite decking was a good option for repairing this client's stairs because it's durable, low maintenance, and more resistant to moisture and rot than wood
railings on concrete steps can make entryways more accessible for everyone
long-lasting, aluminum construction will never rust; ideal for outdoor use
grab bars help prevent slips and falls which are common in wet and slippery bathroom environments
replacing this client's roof allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief every time it rained
Habitat staff and volunteers demo a client's roof
a delighted client proudly standing with his brand-new Habitat roof
a worn and aging roof before the client reached out to Habitat for help
the newly replaced roof, completed after the client reached out to Habitat for assistance
Habitat staff and a client's daughter working together hands-on, fostering a more meaningful and positive experience for the entire family
demolishing the damaged exterior in preparation for replacement
the installation of new siding and a front door enhances the livability of a disabled veteran's home, supporting his ability to age in place with greater comfort and security
the Aging in Place team adores and cherishes our clients' pets!

Aging Safely at Home

"The work Habitat does to keep older people in their homes is so important. At this stage in their lives – my stage of life – the feeling of vulnerability runs deep. The consideration given to convert what was my no longer working natural gas furnace to a cost-effective, efficient, ecologically sustaining form of heating and cooling was nothing less than a dream come true. "

Jenny

Aging in Place Client, 2022