Linda has called the same house home for most of her life. As the youngest of 13 children, she grew up in the family home her parents purchased in 1968—a place filled with memories, milestones, and deep roots. Over the years, as her parents grew older, keeping up with repairs became increasingly difficult and expensive. The home gradually fell into disrepair and eventually sat vacant for a number of years. Through it all, Linda remained grateful for neighbors who kept an eye

For Travis Peterson, working at Home Repairs for Good as a Work Experience (WEX) instructor for the BY Plus program is exactly where he wants to be: serving the community and helping older homeowners live safely in their homes.

It’s no secret—there’s a loneliness epidemic that only intensified after the COVID-19 pandemic. With the growing influence of social media and the increase in time spent alone, it's no surprise that roughly 1 in 3 adults report experiencing loneliness . This spans generations, affecting young adults in their 20s to older adults in their 70s (CoGenerate). What’s even more concerning is that the consequences go beyond mental health. Prolonged loneliness is linked to a higher ri

At the end of last year, Andrew Gagnon, one of our handy volunteers, reached out about a group project for his Consumer Insights course at the Kelley School of Business . As part of the MBA program, Andrew and his classmates needed to create a marketing plan for a nonprofit or corporation. When Andrew suggested Home Repairs for Good, his group quickly got excited. Our mission of providing free home repairs to older adults in Indianapolis resonated with them. It also didn’t hu

Michele’s path has been anything but linear. Born and raised on the east side of Indianapolis, she took on a wide variety of roles—bartender, private jet hangar employee, co-owner of a home repair business, and adult educator, to name a few—before eventually joining Home Repairs for Good as Program Manager for the BY Plus program. After a brief time living in Los Angeles with her then-husband, they decided to return to Indiana, missing both family and the affordability of the

When it comes to critical home repairs, many older adults struggle to find help that is both affordable and reliable. After learning about Home Repairs for Good at an IMPD neighborhood meeting, Darlene, a 67-year-old homeowner, was able to receive critical repairs at no cost. With the support of our volunteers, her gutters were fixed, and the overgrowth along her fence line was cleared. But it was during this yard project that we heard a touching story of how a single act of

Tammye Bonner lives by the same words of wisdom she so freely offers others: Dream big. Don’t be afraid to say what you mean and to say what you need. And lastly, be vulnerable. We sat down with Tammye in her childhood home, where her mother, Theresa, still resides at 90 years old. Both women have received services from Home Repairs for Good , allowing them to age in place and preserve the homes that hold so much of their history. Family photos, albums, and well-loved trinket

Annie believes in the power of storytelling—especially when it comes to connecting people to causes she cares about. She credits her mom, Lisa Cole, for raising her to be civically engaged and for showing her what it looks like to bring people together in meaningful ways. “Equity is at the heart of everything that I’m drawn to—whether I’m aware of it or not,” she shares. Looking back, Annie realized she noticed inequities in Indianapolis as a kid. That early awareness stuck w

Since 2020, Home Repairs for Good has been able to help Rita with more than 10 home repairs. The largest being the replacement of nine of her windows with new ones.

Larry, a 72-year-old disabled Air Force veteran , has lived in his home for 41 years. Home Repairs for Good first helped him in 2020 when his shower was leaking and couldn’t be turned off. Fast forward to this past October, and Larry was one of 11 homeowners served during our annual Fall Repair Fest, receiving assistance from volunteers across the community. It was meaningful support for someone who is far more familiar with giving help than asking for it. Larry’s commitment

Ms. Cielsiolka receiving homeowner care kit. Roxane has lived in her home for many years, cherishing the comfort and independence it provides. When her gas furnace stopped working back in 2020, she reached out to Home Repairs for Good for help. Our team was able to install a new furnace at no cost, keeping her home warm and safe through the winter. Fast forward to 2025, and Roxane faced another challenge. The Marion County Public Health Department issued a citation due to th

“ It isn’t officially Fall until Fall Repair Fest! ” shares one of our long-time volunteers, and she’s exactly right. On October 25th, 109 general volunteers from across Indianapolis joined 12 volunteer Site Supervisors as well as Home Repairs for Good staff to provide critical home repairs for 11 older homeowners , including two veterans and our oldest homeowners served that day, who was 89 years old. Of those 109 volunteers, 61 were joining Home Repairs for Good for the

On a beautiful Saturday morning, I found myself chatting with Tammye in her backyard while the Home Repairs for Good Gutter Crew worked on her home. We hadn’t planned to meet, but as the conversation unfolded, I was struck by her story and her perspective on life. Tammye studied journalism at IUPUI, and became a field reporter because she valued truth and wanted to uncover what was really going on around her. Her career took a surprising turn when she moved to Los Angeles, wh

We’re excited to welcome Angela Hussey as our new Project Manager for the Home Repairs Program! Her passion for affordable housing and strong commitment to helping her community make her a natural fit for Home Repairs for Good. Angela knows firsthand the challenges many homeowners face. After the 2008 housing crash , she was forced to sell her home, and renting proved to be more difficult than expected as a single parent. At the same time, she was caring for her grandmother

When Allen first heard about the BYPlus program , an eight-week training course that prepares people for a career in construction, he was juggling two fast food jobs. Until he came across a post on his cousin’s social media of him on a ladder during training. Allen was intrigued and wanted to join. But there was a catch. Neither of his employers were willing to adjust his schedule so he could attend classes during the day and work nights. Faced with a choice, Allen made a bol

Natalie has lived in her house for nearly 30 years. She was drawn to the quiet street, families, neighbors you got to know, when she moved here. When she bought her home, the rent prices and continuation of always paying that rent while also raising children was daunting. After running the numbers, she realized it was more economical and feasible for her to buy her home. So she did. “It’s still more economical for me to own my home,” Natalie laughs a little as she says this.

Nathan’s decision to spend his summer with us was part of a broader path toward becoming a physician. Serving with Home Repairs for Good through AmeriCorps allowed him to gain valuable, real-world experience in the challenges of aging in place.

her monthly social security amount of just a little over $1,400 not enough to make ends meet and have room to do repairs.

Now, as the newest member of the Home Repairs for Good Board of Directors, Tauhric is bringing that passion to a bigger stage – one that’s focused on both local service and larger systems change.

Right now, across the country, houses are being abandoned. Not because people want to leave, but because they have no choice. The Joint Center for Housing Studies recently reported that 6.7 million households are living in homes that don’t meet basic safety standards.