Congregational Church of New Canaan Volunteers Deliver Home Repair Relief Locally

Leading the charge of our 2025 Fall HomeFront Days, The Congregational Church of New Canaan once again spread their community outreach beyond God's Acre this past week. In this, their 32nd year of participation with HomeFront, dozens of volunteers came to the aid of Lorette, a Norwalk widow in her 60s who works for the public school system and puts a roof over the heads of her grandchildren and two foster children. Volunteers set their sights on overhauling dangerous front steps for this multi-generational home. Church volunteers with a variety of talents remedied a worn-down kitchen floor, replaced a broken storm door before the colder weather sets in, repaired windows, solved plumbing leaks, tackled yard work and added long overdue fresh coats of paint to brighten the home for this close-knit family.

These goodhearted helpers were in solidarity with 300 local neighbors of all ages and from all walks of life who have been banding together to revitalize 10 properties in need across 19 cities this Fall – all at no cost to the recipients. Older adults on fixed incomes, veterans, persons with disabilities, single-parent households and other low-income families are at the heart of their focus.

Volunteer leaders from faith communities, civic groups and corporations have spent months planning this outpouring with HomeFront. These sixth annual Fall HomeFront Days are a key step in the program’s goal to deliver safer and healthier living conditions to 70 local families this year. In addition to the dedicated helpers, this life-changing service is made possible by grants, individual donations and volunteer sponsorships

“We are proud to team up with every segment of the community and become part of the housing solution,” said HomeFront’s Board Chair, Kenneth Wiegand.

These good works take place in a state where 40% of CT residents report struggling with making ends meet, according to Data Haven and United Way. The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness underscores what is at stake amid a 13% rise in homelessness particularly among employed residents who cannot afford housing. For those who have built up our communities, the Connecticut Chapter of the American Association of Retired People finds that 55% of older adults express concern about being able to afford to age in place.

The impact of these repairs extends beyond individual households. Research shows that repairing even one home on a block can lead to a nearly 22% decrease in total crime in that area. Improvements to a single home help strengthen entire neighborhoods, stabilize communities, and foster pride among residents.

Today’s HomeFront organizes Spring and Fall volunteer home repair group events. The program has also ratcheted up assistance with its new initiative called Critical Pro Repair (CPR). Through CPR, skilled HomeFront staff team up with one or two skilled volunteers to deliver crucial repairs such as wheelchair ramps, step and walkway overhauls and deck repairs to struggling families. More than 130 local families have received essential construction aid from HomeFront through CPR since 2020.

The collective compassion of hands-on volunteers, product contributors, foundations and other donors brings HomeFront to the mark of more than 3,200 homes revitalized in program history, delivering $50 million of service where needed most since 1988. 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. More information on HomeFront can be found online at: www.homefrontprogram.org.