This article was written by Deborah Schagen, Hands on Housing Program Director.
Recently, I was approached for an interview, by Jessica Choate, an Environmental Science student with Austin Community College. She was tasked by her professor to educate the public about resources available in the Austin Area which encourage and enable the community to become more environmentally aware and responsible. Jessica’s presentation will be displayed on her ACC campus for professors and peers to view. Below, are the high-lights of her report on Hands on Housing.
Hands on Housing was established in 1989, and is a division of iACT (Interfaith Action of Central Texas). Their goal is to bring different and diverse communities together for interfaith service, focusing on fulfilling the needs of the elderly who live in poverty and/or with disabilities. The repair work creates a healthier and safer home environment for the clients assisted through the program. By utilizing both licensed contractors and skilled volunteers, the repairs they facilitate reduce the carbon footprint of the household and the Austin community as a whole.
Many of the Hands on Housing clients suffer from very high bill balances for their water and electric usage, as their existing appliances, systems, and materials pre-date energy efficiency standards of the home building industry. Swapping out the old for the new saves these homeowners so much money and relieves a little bit of the hardship they face living in poverty every day. By offering their clients water-sense rated plumbing materials such as toilets and faucets, Hands on Housing makes it possible for low-income homeowners to not only reduce their water bills, but also help to eliminate water waste. Hands on housing is also able to offer clients energy efficient materials, such as Energy Star Certified appliances, double-pane windows, etc. When roofing is a part of the scope of work, Hands on Housing can provide weatherization services to their homeowners, such as attic insulation with a rating of R-38 or higher to reduce heat flow and thereby reduce energy consumption and cost for the home.
The long-term impacts of housing repair are vast. The Austin Housing Repair Coalition has recently entered into a partnership with Huston-Tillotson University to track the (later) outcomes of the repair work completed. Follow-up interviews with the homeowners served years ago, show that some chronic health issues such as asthma and breathing-related ailments have greatly improved after receiving home repairs such as carpet removal, drywall repair etc. It is wonderful that our Austin-based educational institutions are taking an interest in the research of environmental and health effects of home repair in our community.
