Press Releases For More Information: 19th Annual AmeriCares HomeFront Sees Return of the Experts from This Old House™ & Nearly 80 Home Repair Projects in One Day Close to 80 low-income homeowners throughout much of Connecticut and Westchester County, New York, will be the recipients of free construction-intensive home repair projects, thanks to the volunteer efforts of well over 5,000 caring individuals. Professionals, along with members of faith-based and civic groups and also corporations, will take part in the 19th annual AmeriCares HomeFront this year on Saturday, May 6, a daylong home repair blitz aimed at creating an environment of safety and stability for low-income homeowners who wish to remain in their homes. Major Partner Returns One of the highlights of the day is the return of a major program sponsor, the experts from the Emmy Award-winning home improvement series, magazine and web site This Old House, who will travel from New York City and Boston to participate. TV host Kevin O'Connor and Master Carpenter Norm Abram will join some 50 other team members at a house in Norwalk for the ninth consecutive year. The Essence of AmeriCares HomeFront Many applicants have lived in their homes for years, if not decades. Sometimes, the home has been in the family for two to three generations. Given the disappearance of affordable alternatives, many homeowners have nowhere to go, thus enduring substandard living conditions rather than face homelessness. Having decent housing is directly linked to a sense of self-worth and well-being. Especially true for older individuals, stability equates to peace of mind. "Thus, our slogan, 'Raising spirits, restoring hope, revitalizing [the concept of] community'," noted Sean O'Brien, the program's executive director Defining Need In figures just released by the U. S. Census Bureau, Connecticut and New York rank among the Top Ten states with the highest median home value, placing fourth and seventh respectively. Both states rank among the Top Ten in terms of having the highest cost of living, serving to widen the gap between the have's and have not's. According to the Census Bureau, nearly every large metro area has lost more residents between 2000 and 2004 due to the high cost of living. It's no coincidence the target areas for HomeFront in recent years have become Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Norwalk and Waterbury, Connecticut. Having an Impact In its 19-year history, AmeriCares HomeFront has delivered more than $30 million worth of building products and services to homeowners in need and has assisted well over 2,200 homeowners. "It is truly amazing what caring, concerned individuals, working together, can accomplish for their neighbors in need," O'Brien said. The work performed on HomeFront Day can be significant, often including fixing leaky roofs, repairing water damage, replacing flooring, or installing a new furnace and insulation to make a home more energy efficient so the cost of heating a home during the winter months does not go out the window, literally. Still other tasks might include building a ramp to give a wheelchair-bound homeowner access to the outdoors; painting ceilings, walls and home exteriors; fixing walkways and repairing steps to make them safe for passage; repairing inadequate or inoperable plumbing, and upgrading a home's ###
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