A “total blessing” through home repair with Habitat
Habitat Metro Denver brought Terezia, 90, and her son Robert, 73, the first good news that they’ve had in a long time about their home.
Terezia is paralyzed and Robert developed dementia after a fall several years ago, so their three-bedroom home in Denver fell into disrepair. The roof used to leak and the windows – which were original to the home – were painted shut and couldn’t be used.
Habitat Metro Denver crews and volunteers put in a new roof, storm windows, a cedar fence, and new, green siding, shares Terezia’s daughter Bea. The home improvements will allow the family to open their windows at last – or find shelter from the elements, depending on the time of year.
“I am so excited for them because they’ve be able to open the windows for the first time,” shares Bea. “Because of my mom’s age and my brother’s disability, they were unable to take care of the home repairs on their own. They were going to lose their home insurance because of the conditions.”
Terezia, who moved to the U.S. from Hungary in 1956, ran a commercial cleaning service with her husband until he died in 1976. She sold the cleaning service and bought two homes and three other businesses that she ran successfully for several decades.
About 20 years ago, she was defrauded in a mortgage scheme and lost everything except the house she now shares with Robert, who was a carpenter, shares Bea.
Here is this really strong woman who ran three businesses. She started to decline after she was defrauded and when her other son died about 10 years ago,” shares Bea, who takes care of her mother and brother with help from their neighbors. “She deserves to be taken care of.”
Bea has also been supporting her mom during the home repair process. Since her mom is disabled, Bea volunteered at Habitat’s ReStores for the sweat equity hours that were required for the family’s partnership with Habitat. The family also paid a portion of the costs for the work, shares Bea.
“I’d heard about Habitat’s repair program and put in an application because I knew it would help my mom. The repair work will allow them to stay in the house and not go into a nursing home. And they won’t lose their homeowners’ insurance,” Bea said.
“It is totally a blessing,” shares Bea. “We could never have done this on our own. This whole experience has been fantastic.”
“I am so excited for them because they’ve be able to open the windows for the first time,” said Bea.
