Major Sponsor

Hammer with a Heart 2009 was a Big Success!

Thanks very much to all of the volunteers, crew leaders, volunteer leaders, donors and material sponsors who helped make Hammer with a Heart such a success. Project Home and nearly 200 volunteers helped 12 homeowners and their families, and the Prairie Crossing Apartments by making significant home repairs inside and out for those who cannot afford to make the repairs themselves (for more photos from 2009, in process of being added, and 2008 Hammer projects, click on Hammer with a Heart Gallery on the left).  Some of the highlights from Hammer with a Heart 2009 include:

Madison Area Builders Association

LeeAnne and her two young boys now have a newly sided home and gutters, plus a new furnace, water softener, air conditioner and safe steps from their front door. Crew led by Madison Area Builders Association (LeeAnne on right, and MABA crew)

W.E. Davies + Sons Remodeling

 

Carpenters Local #314

  

Brian and Joni appreciate their new safe, remodeled bathroom, new back porch roof, and two windows and three doors. Community volunteers helped sort materials for donation, replaced the porch screen on the front of the house.                  

Peggy, 58, now has accessible doors, a wheel chair ramp, and a hazard-free garden that will allow her to stay in her home, also courtesy of Carpenters Union #314 led by Jim Bakken.

  

Hammer with a Heart-How It Works

Each year, hundreds of dedicated crew leaders, volunteer leaders, community volunteers, and businesses team up to make repairs to area homes for low-income neighbors who cannot afford to make themselves.

The volunteers come from construction and other companies, churches, community service organizations, college groups, as well as lots of individuals.                                                                                     

Hammer with a Heart also relies on corporate sponsorships and materials and services, usually donated or discounted, to provide important home repairs for low-income Dane County residents. Homeowners must meet financial eligibility levels and have some major repair needs that impact their health, safety, or comfort. The best homeowner candidates have work that can be completed mostly in one day, although some have taken 2-3 weeks due to new problems discovered (photo: Waunakee Remodeling house, 2009).  

We repaired 12 homes plus a low-income apartment building for this year's Hammer with a Heart--the most so far. Please see the registration forms below for Volunteers and Homeowners for the May 1, 2010 event.

Over the last eight years, a total of fifty-four homeowners and their families have received $585,000 worth of critical home improvements including wheel chair ramps, stairs, kitchen cupboards, roofs, hot water heaters, plumbing and electrical work. A recipient recently wrote:

"I wanted to write and say thank you again for all the wonderful things you and your staff have done for me. All day long as I watched the volunteers there were nothing but smiles and moods were nothing but positive. All seemed to be happy to be here helping and doing such hard work... I could never have done this on my own. A great stress has been lifted. Thank you all."  Ray

“Click here to become a Hammer with a Heart Volunteer. Registration deadline is Thursday, April 1, 2010.

We are grateful to the hard-working people who participated in Hammer with a Heart.

Brief History

Even though Project Home’s two home repair programs charged low fees for repairs ($8/hour for labor and low cost materials, is now $10/hour) for low to moderate income residents, the cost was often too expensive for our low-income customers. We determined that a program was needed to provide free home repair. As a result, Hammer with a Heart was formed in 2002 to meet that unmet need. This one day event is typically on the first Saturday in May.

Homeowner Information

Hammer with a Heart requires that all homeowners submit an application for consideration.  It is important that you provide a comprehensive list of repair needs, large and small.  Depending up the skilled crews participating, they select projects that are appropriate for them and not necessarily predictable.  Some projects are too large for us to accomplish and some just cannot be turned down. If you are interested in windows and doors, please know your application may not make it through the first cut. New windows and doors are very expensive and rarely increase the comfort of a home or reduce your energy bills by much. No matter the quality of the window, glass does not stop the cold and there are so many other places in a home that contribute to it being cold.  If you do not know if you have appropriate projects for Hammer with a Heart, call Susan Buzby at 246-3737 to discuss them.

Repairs will be provided at no cost to the recipients. If the repairs significantly increase the value of your home (like a kitchen or bath remodel which isn't very common), some homeowners may need to sign a five-year forgivable loan for the assessed value of the repairs (usually between $3,000 - $7,000). This loan will be forgiven at 20% per year and completely forgiven if the homeowner does not sell, transfer ownership, take equity out of, or move from this home for five years. The assessed value of the repairs will be determined after the home inspection and before any loan agreement is signed.

• Single family owner occupied home, not a mobile home or condominium.
• Located within Dane County.
• Home must be in need of repairs or accessibility improvements, but structurally sound.
• Pleasant and cooperative to work with.
• Total annual household income must meet these income guidelines.

Please click here to apply to receive home repairs.

Deadline for homeowner applications has passed for the May 2009 event. Please consider applying next year. The deadline will be in mid November, 2009 for the May 1, 2010 event. Please call Susan or Kathy at 608.246.3737 for more information.