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Beth Trussell
Disabled, elderly and low-income Chattanoogans who need home repairs are encouraged to apply for free help this summer, when nearly 800 World Changers volunteers will do repairs here.
“Our focus is on helping the elderly and disabled,” said Beverly Johnson, administrator of the city’s Neighborhood Services and Community Development department. “Those are the people whose income is less than most.”
That department and the Front Porch Alliance coordinated the organization’s stop in the city. World Changers volunteers have done home repairs in Chattanooga since 2003.
The group is a volunteer youth ministry arm of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Church. Members are scheduled to do repair work on 60 local houses.
Organizers said the deadline to apply for help is March 31, and no incomplete applications will be accepted. The work will be scheduled from July 12-26.
Residents may apply by contacting Neighborhood Services at 425-3700 or the Front Porch Alliance at 756-8545.
At least 50 of the 800 volunteers who will be working on houses are from Chattanooga. More than 20 local churches are expected to participate by providing food and transporting volunteers.
The city of Chattanooga gave a $500,000 community development block grant to buy the materials for repairs. The Front Porch Alliance is hosting a fundraiser at the Bessie Smith Hall on March 25 in an effort to raise another $500,000. The organization also is asking businesses and churches to make donations.
The more money raised for repairs, the more work volunteers can do, said Beth Trussell, executive director of the Front Porch Alliance.
“Last year we got 160 applications,” she said. “We could only do 45.”
Ms. Trussell said most repairs involve putting on new roofs, installing wheelchair ramps and painting houses. Volunteers also bring homes up to standard for selected homeowners who have been cited because of home repairs. Volunteers try to avoid plumbing and electrical work, which requires a professional contractor, Ms. Trussell said.
“We make those necessary repairs to help people not be fined,” she said. “We’ve done sheetrock repair, wheelchair (accessible) bathrooms and repaired awnings falling off one side of the porch.”
Yolanda Putman has been a reporter at the Times Free Press for 11 years. She covers housing and previously covered education and crime. Yolanda is a Chattanooga native who has a master’s degree in communication from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Alabama State University. She previously worked at the Lima (Ohio) News. She enjoys running, reading and writing and is the mother of one son, Tyreese. She has also ...
