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TRANSITIONS AT HOME Dear Friend, It has been an exciting year at Home Repair Services (HRS). For the first time since the final days of the Carter Administration, the agency experienced a transition in executive leadership. On January 1, 1980, a young Dave Jacobs took the reins of a then young Home Repair Services and on November 9, 2015, I was welcomed in as Dave’s successor. In his 34 years here, Dave built a strong, client-centered organization that has never veered from its missional lane of supporting and equipping lower-income homeowners for success. This, along with core characteristics of compassion, stewardship, dignity and collaboration, is what distinguishes HRS and helps define the work we do and how we do it. This will not change. I want to personally express to you my gratitude for your support of this important mission. This past year, you helped vulnerable, lower-income homeowners throughout Kent County gain access to critically needed emergency repairs, regain their independence through an access ramp and more safely age in their own homes with a bathroom modification. You helped people build their repair and remodeling skills to a level where they could fix and improve their own homes. You empowered homeowners through financial coaching and helped spare homeowners from the spiral of losing a home to foreclosure. Your support helped make possible 24 gleaming, new do-it-yourself kitchens and enabled us to complete 145 Home Maintenance Check-up inspections. You even improved food security in Kent County through our partnership in the innovative Community Food Club of Greater Grand Rapids.
Together, we have built up homes, and together, we have built up the people that live in them. What a great combination— thanks for making it possible! There remains plenty for us to do. As our community confronts an affordable housing crisis, the work of HRS is as important as ever. As forgotten neighborhoods get rediscovered, we hope that our equipping work positions lower-income homeowners to be able to stay in place—to welcome newcomers to the neighborhood they helped anchor for years—not to leave it. Their presence—the diversity they bring— is a very important ingredient for a stronger, more vibrant and just Kent County. So it is truly my privilege to invite you to read the following pages and learn more about the impact that HRS had this past year. Your continued interest, collaboration and financial support – your partnership – has been so important over the years and it is so appreciated. We hope that you will continue to stay with us and if you are new to HRS, we welcome you to the family. Joel Ruiter | Executive Director ONE OF THE BEST GIFTS THAT DAVE JACOBS LEFT BEHIND WAS THE HRS STAFF PICTURED ABOVE. THEY ARE THE “SECRET SAUCE” THAT MAKES HRS SO SPECIAL. PASSIONATE, PURPOSEFUL, DEDICATED AND DETERMINED — I SALUTE THEM!
Page 1: 2016 IMPACT REPORT July 1, 2015 - J
Page 5 and 6: MAJOR & MINOR REPAIR PROGRAMS 1685
Page 7 and 8: FINANCIAL COACHING 387 79 33 coachi
Page 9 and 10: STORIES FROM HOME: BUILDING STRONG
Page 11 and 12: THE IMPACT OF YOU “After a ramp p

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