Palmetto CRA to Host a Brush with Kindness Event Saturday

Four homes located in the Jackson Park area will be repainted on Saturday during a Brush with Kindness event which will be held from 8 a.m. to noon.

Habitat for Humanity’s "A Brush with Kindness" is an exterior home preservation service that offers painting, landscaping, weather stripping and minor repair services for homeowners in need. While the service isn’t free, the Palmetto CRA is covering the fee home owners would have to contribute for the repair.

“It’s a great program that helps low income families maintain the upkeep of their homes,” said Didi Hager, manager of family services for Habitat for Humanity. “Because volunteers are doing the construction, it’s a way to keep costs down.”

In addition to Saturday's undertaking, a new homeowner has been selected for the second residential rehabilitation home remodel, which will begin on May 19.

In 2010, the Palmetto CRA devised a three-step residential rehabilitation plan that incorporates municipal experts to identify houses that are in need of rehabilitation. Through outside agencies, such as Florida Power & Light and Habitat for Humanity, volunteers come forward to help remodel those homes and bring them into compliance with the city’s residential code. 

The Palmetto code enforcement department identifies any chronic code violations, but instead of fining the owners, they inform the CRA of the violations. The CRA then works with others to help fix the violations for people who can’t afford to make the repairs.

The pilot home was completed last October and a new homeowner has been selected for the second home remodel, which will begin on May 19. The date of completion remains tentative.

For more information about how the CRA is helping local homeowners and businesses, visit www.palmettocra.org or find the Palmetto CRA on facebook.