Across 14 Connecticut towns and cities, participants from 16 local corporate, civic and faith-based groups rolled up their sleeves Saturday, May 14, ushering in the return of Spring HomeFront Days for the first time since the pandemic. In this 35th HomeFront season, local residents sought to repair the homes of 70 low-income older adults, persons with disabilities, veterans, single-parent households and families in transitional crisis this year. Since Covid”™s onset, more than 100 local vulnerable families have found critical home repair assistance for free through HomeFront. One group residence managed by STAR Inc., Lighting the Way in Norwalk was the beneficiary of the day”™s efforts. STAR, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary serving families in the Greater Norwalk area who are impacted by intellectual and developmental disabilities, is headquartered at 182 Wolfpit Ave. in Norwalk.
According to the Connecticut Housing Collaborative, 30% of households in the state are considered cost burdened, paying 30% or more of their income toward their mortgage. HomeFront has responded by introducing Covid-compliant Fall HomeFront Days over the past two years and ratcheting up assistance through a new initiative called Critical Pro Repair (CPR). Through this service line, skilled HomeFront staff have teamed up with one or two pro volunteers to deliver crucial exterior repairs.
Thanks to the generosity of The Home Depot Foundation, the three large-scale projects on Saturday benefited local veterans.
HomeFront is a community-based program dedicated to keeping low-income homeowners in their homes with an improved quality of life through substantial repairs completed at no cost to them.
