A Quiet and Peaceful Life: Critical Home Repairs and Poetry

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 on the property, helping protect the home and the memories inside it.

When life circumstances brought her back to Indiana in 2013, Linda moved back into her childhood home. Taking ownership of the house was more than a legal step, it was, as she described, “a sense of pride and accomplishment.” For Linda, who is legally blind, the familiarity of her home means everything. She knows every room and every corner by heart. That comfort and confidence make aging safely in place possible.

“It’s my home. It’s still my home regardless of the issues that it has right now.”

Earlier this year, a tree fell onto her front deck, damaging a window and creating even more urgent repair needs. Once again, one of her neighbors was there to help, contacting the fire department when the tree fell since Linda hadn’t realized what had happened. While she says she doesn’t know all of her neighbors, the ones she does know have become an important support system.

“We watch out for each other,” she shared. “That’s what makes a community.”

Faced with unexpected costs and growing concerns about the safety of her home, Linda found support through Home Repairs for Good. saying that "It’s an awesome agency…and I know the people there have always been kind to me and always helpful.”

For Linda, her neighbors, homeownership, and the support of Home Repairs for Good have all been a blessing. She shared that she never expected to own her own home and at one point faced the risk of homelessness. That is why she says organizations like Home Repairs for Good are “vital for the community,” because she knows she is not the only one facing these kinds of challenges.

Now, what matters most for Linda is being able to “live a quiet and peaceful life,” and homeownership helps make that possible. It gives her stability, familiarity, and a place where she feels safe.

In her spare time, she enjoys writing poetry and we were able to sit down with her as she recited some of her poems that surround social issues influenced by her background in social work. Here's one such poem: “What Will We Teach Our Children”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d07wf63i1Aw

Linda calls her writing “eclectic” and at times, when she feels helpless, and there’s nothing she can do about certain situations—that’s when she decides to write. She has seen over the years that her poetry resonates with other people and that it can bring people together, offering another form of community. 

Home Repairs for Good celebrates homeowners like Linda, whose resilience and determination have carried them through life’s challenges and made homeownership possible. Her story is a reminder that a safe, stable home is more than a place to live—it is where memories are protected, independence is preserved, and community thrives.

Because of supporters like you, homeowners like Linda can continue living safely and peacefully in the homes they love. Your generosity helps provide critical home repairs that protect not just houses, but the people and stories inside.

Join us in keeping homeowners like Linda home. Make a gift today to help more neighbors like Linda age in place with dignity, security, and peace of mind.

“There's nothing like being a homeowner. I still love it and I wouldn't trade it for anything.” — Linda.