Free/Low-Cost Home Renovations - USA
Bonim Builders (free)
201-820-3903 Stacey Orden, coordinator
Bonim is Hebrew for builders, and this group specializes in renovating homes in the northern New Jersey area for low income families that are in need of assistance.
They also do renovations for the mentally disabled and the physically challenged.
Projects are conducted on Sundays, and are volunteer based. Bonim Builders will sometimes partner with other organizations like Habitat For Humanity or Rebuilding Together.
Both minor and major projects are done. For example, over the course of many Sundays, volunteers were able to renovate a home that had been vacant so that a homeless family of six could move in rent-free for two years. They fixed water damage and helped to make the place cozy and warm.
Rebuilding Together (free)
http://www.rebuildingtogether.org/
Rebuilding Together is the nation’s leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities. Our network of more than 200 affiliates provides free rehabilitation and critical repairs to the homes
of low-income Americans.]
Rebuilding Together National Headquarters
1899 L Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20036
1-800-473-4229.
Jew-Hab Construction (low cost)
Baltimore, MD
Summer program in which trained yeshiva boys will do at low cost small construction and renovation projects supervised by a professional construction foreman. Jobs can include any small construction or renovation project such as building decks or sheds, painting, remodeling, or demolition.
This project is run by Rabbi Aryeh Zigdon and Mrs. Bonnie Pollack. It is generously sponsored by the Star K Vaad Hakashrus of Baltimore.
Hamaspik Home Rehab Program
845-503-0232
Rockland County, New York only
The HOME program rehabilitates homes in Rockland County in hazardous condition. Funding of up to $25,000 can be approved per home.
Repairs can include leaking roof, broken stairs, broken furnace, lead paint, poor insulation, mold, unsafe or worn out wiring, cracked foundation, etc...
To qualify:
House must be occupied by owner
Homeowner must have income under 60% of the median income (ex--a family of 8 must earn approx $80,000 or less)
A homeowner's insurance policy must be in force
Homeowner must posess a current Certificate of Occupancy from local Building Department
All taxes and mortgages must be paid up to date
All water and sewer charges must be paid up to date
Hamaspik Restore Program
718-431-8400 ext 428 Mordechai Holhendler
Kings County NYC only
Hamaspik in conjunction with The NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC), is now administering the RESTORE Program in Kings County NY. The RESTORE Program is for senior (60+) low-income (Section 8 eligible - does not exceed 80 percent of the area median income) homeowners in need of emergency repairs (something which affects the health and safety of the homeowner, is considered any emergency repair) to their home. The home can be no more than a one-to-four unit dwelling, that is owned and occupied by the homeowner, and work undertaken cannot exceed $5,000 per building.
Once a home is deemed appropriate to receive RESTORE funds, the Homeowner must sign an agreement which states that if he sells the building within 3 years, he must return the funds used to improve his property. This form will be filed with the county clerk.
Rescuing Families
516-697-9403
Franklin Square, New York
A non-profit run by a family of contractors which aims to make life easier for disabled homeowners and veterans with financial hardships who are living in homes in dire need of repair. They do needed home rehabilitation or accessibility modifications on a voluntary basis.
Rebuilding Together Long Island
631-777-7894
A volunteer based organization that does needed repairs and accessibility modifications for income eligible homeowners who are seniors, disabled, or veterans in Nassau and Suffolk counties of NY.