ReStore Donations Help Couple Remake their Home

ReStore Donations Help Couple Remake their Home

This month, Habitat’s ReStore in Franklin will celebrate their 1 year anniversary. To mark the anniversary they’re trying to reach $1 million in donations by Saturday, April 23rd. The proceeds from donations of gently used items are invested right into our community, helping families like Wellington and Denise.

They’ve owned their home in the Borchert Field neighborhood since 2007. However, recently they received an unusually high water bill, which set off a red flag.

“I am a gardener, but we didn’t use a lot of water this year,” Wellington said. “[I saw] the extreme water bill we got. [I wondered] ‘why do we have this huge bill?’”

After contacting the water department, they were told that their bill was most likely the result of a leak, which they then discovered.

“We learned that the subfloor needed to be replaced. It was slowly deteriorating. Every time we go to that bathroom, we are afraid it will fall out,” Wellington said.

Through the Habitat for Humanity Critical Home Repair Program, Wellington and Denise are having the leak repaired and a new subfloor put in.

The Critical Home Repair Program makes repairs such as roofing, plumbing, electrical, and more, affordable for local homeowners. The program offers a 0% interest loan on repairs, flexible repayment options, and up to 80% of the loan could be forgiven based on income. 

“For me, [the repair] will mean that I don’t have to worry about something that we could have addressed a long time ago if we knew,” Denise said. “It will be safer.” 

Although this is their first time in the Critical Home Repair Program, Wellington and Denise have been shopping at Milwaukee Habitat ReStores since they moved into their home. 

Habitat ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers whose proceeds are used to build safe, affordable homes in our community. They sell new and gently used furniture, building materials, appliances, and home accessories to the public at 50%-75% below retail.

“We’ve done a total remake of the house,” Denise said. “Every room has had to have something done. In order for us to stay in our budget, we went to ReStores. We purchased a lot. It’s a great home.”

They inherited the house from Wellington’s mom in 2007 and Denise now describes it as a “Milwaukee bungalow.” Denise and Wellington have completely transformed their home with ReStore purchases and now through the Critical Home Repair program. 

You can help more families in need of affordable home repair by donating gently used items to Habitat for Humanity ReStore. 

Help ReStore Franklin reach $1 million in donated items by their 1 year anniversary! Donate by Saturday, April 23rd!