Habitat for Humanity Lake County offers helping hand to local mother, daughter
LAKE COUNTY >> Referred to Habitat for Humanity by a friend, Margaret and Margie Bartlemus were in desperate need for a ramp for their home. It has been difficult for Margaret to get her daughter in and out of their home by herself and Margie was unable to easily use a manual wheelchair. When they reached out to Habitat to request assistance with a ramp, they were fortunate to discover that Habitat also had a motorized scooter available for their use.
Habitat’s repair team discovered the family was also in need of a new stove, a working heating and cooling system, and repairs to a plumbing leak under their sink, all of which they addressed as part of the Brush of Kindness Critical Home Repair Program.
Says Margie, “Everything they have done has been wondrous. This ramp was a miracle for me because I only had four steps to climb but they were so difficult. I want to thank them for all of the things that they did. If they can help someone else, I say trust them. They are good people.
To date, Habitat for Humanity Lake County has assisted approximately 300 homeowners with repairs to their homes. They expect to complete as many additional families as possible for 2021 and are accepting applications now. Brush of Kindness recipients are typically seniors and military veterans who may be disabled and unable to affect repairs on their own. In addition to Habitat’s homeownership program, critical health and safety related repair work as become one of Habitat Lake County’s primary goals.
Donations to the Critical Home Repair Fund, especially of wheelchair ramps and lifts are critical to the program’s success. To donate, or if you or someone you know are low income homeowners who could benefit from critical health and safety related repairs, please contact Habitat for Humanity Lake County at 707-994-1100 for an application or visit the office at 15312 Lakeshore Dr. Clearlake.