Apply for
home preservation
Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH)'s home preservation program provides affordable micro-loans to qualifying homeowners who need help with accessibility modifications, home weatherization, general home repairs, yard cleanup, and landscaping. Some critical repair work and larger loans are available on a case-by-case basis. GSHFH works alongside volunteers and homeowners to make repairs.
This is Franklin's house.
Franklin is a former Army Reserve specialist fourth grade, who served eight years. Now, a 90-year-old veteran, Franklin's Springfield home, which was built in 1911 and owned by Franklin for at least 60 years, is in serious disrepair. Franklin’s daughter, Theresa, reached out to Greater Springfield Habitat in May and September 2021, requesting home preservation services, but the program had temporarily closed due to a lack of funds. After the second phone call, Habitat staff ventured to the house to survey the damage and necessary repairs. GSHFH then connected with Habitat for Humanity International for assistance. Habitat International helped Greater Springfield Habitat access the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Veterans Housing Rehabilitation and Modification Pilot program to qualify this project. The federal program serves veterans and/or low-income individuals and provides grants to repair their primary residences so they can retain their independence without being burdened by the repair costs. Franklin's house repairs were scheduled in two phases. First, over Memorial Day weekend in May 2022, GSHFH subcontracted Westfield’s NexGen Roofing to replace the roof and sheathing.
Franklin's Springfield home.
In late December 2022, USA Hauling, TNT General Contracting, and volunteers from the Westfield Home Depot Distribution Center and American International College Men's Rugby team came for phase two. The team removed water-damaged drop ceiling and plaster from the walls, installed new framing and supports where needed, applied new insulation throughout the room, replaced the water-damaged windows with new energy-efficient windows, and updated the electrical and installed additional outlets and ceiling lights. They also installed all new drywall to the windows and ceiling, repainted the walls, refinished the original moldings and reinstalled or replaced damaged flooring to match the original as closely as possible. They fixed the heating/vent connections and cleaned out the heating/vent ductwork. Theresa said she is grateful and extremely thankful to GSHFH and all it is able to do to help her father.
An image showing the state of Franklin's roof.
Nextgen roofing takes off the old roof.
Nextgen roofing takes off the old roof.
Nextgen roofing takes off the old roof.
The new roof is done.
The ceiling in one of Franklin's rooms showing water damage.
The floor in the room showing damage from a leaky roof and ceiling.
Volunteers remove the water-damaged drop ceiling.
Volunteers from the Home Depot Distribution Center in Westfield and American International College Men's Rugby team pose for a quick photo with 90-year-old homeowner Franklin (back left) and his daughter Theresa (front left).
An image showing one of the new energy-efficient windows.
Repair in progress.
The finished room.