Johnston Volunteers Fix Up Houses to Keep Residents Safe, Warm and Dry

Habitat For Humanity puts people in homes, but the Rebuilding Together Program aims to keep low-income homeowners in their homes.

On Saturday, more than 700 volunteers will work on various projects at 40 homes around the Des Moines metro for the 17th annual Rebuilding Together Greater Des Moines.

While there aren't any homes in Johnston slated for work, there are several Johnston residents volunteering their time, said Kimberly Hansen, executive director of the Des Moines program.

"It's really great when you walk away from a project and a homeowner is so thankful and thanking you with tears in their eyes. That's why I do it every year."

One of those volunteers is Scott Cooley, a Johnston Rotary Club member and Granger resident, who began working with the program after being approached by a co-worker at . 

"I enjoy helping others and giving back to the community," Cooley, 42, said. "I was happy to be a house captain. I kicked off the first house six years ago."

House captains are responsible for finding a team of volunteers and sponsors to keep the program going.

Cooley has about 40 volunteers working on his team's home this year and ten businesses from the Des Moines area donating services and goods.

For more than 200 affiliates nationwide, Saturday marks National Rebuilding Together Day. The nonprofit focuses on smaller home projects that can be completed in one day.

On Saturday, Cooley's team will complete dirt work on the outside of a home to help fix the foundation.

"We'll put in new carpet, it's kind of a hazard for the homeowner," he said. "We're putting in two new doors and two new appliances. This homeowner doesn't have a clothes dryer or stove. R&R Realty purchased those appliances to donate."

For each home they work on, Cooley's team will install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors before leaving.

Hansen said Johnston City Councilman David Lindeman has worked as a house captain while his employer, Booz Allen Hamilton, has sponsored projects for the past three year.

Evaluating Houses that Need Help

Hansen, the executive director, said when looking at projects to tackle organizers consider what will make a homeowner safe, warm and dry.

"We do anything from building wheelchair ramps for a veteran returning from war, putting in handicap accessible bathrooms, putting in windows," Hanson said. "It depends on the homeowner. If the roof is in bad shape, if it's a leaky roof they could get mold and moisture inside, doors that can't be secured are a safety issue," she said.

To get the 40 homes slated for work on the National Rebuilding Together Day on Saturday, Hansen and co-workers looked through 60 to 70 applications.

"We want to … make sure people qualify for the program both financially and screen them to make sure it's a good experience for the volunteers," she said.

To qualify as a home project, residents must:
• Own and live in their home
• Have their home insured under a homeowner's policy
• Be low income per Polk County guidelines
• Assessed value of the property must not exceed $134,000
• Complete an application

Summer Projects Looming

This summer, Hansen said the program will work with the Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee and Grimes Rotary Clubs to complete a home project in August in northeast Des Moines area.

Hansen hopes that homeowners in need in the Johnston area will seek out the program for help.

For Cooley the experience of helping others is what keeps him coming back year after year.

"It's really just giving back to your neighbor," he said. "Maybe it's the altrulistic spirit of giving back. … That's what drive me to do it and make a difference in somebody's life."

Hansen said the impact for the homeowner is just as great as for the volunteers.

"The pride of the homeowner in the neighborhood can really help them feel better and help the neighborhood feel better," she said.

In Cooley's experience the homeowner reaction says it all.

"It's really great when you walk away from a project and a homeowner is so thankful and thanking you with tears in their eyes," he said. "That's why I do it every year."