Volunteers repair homes for Dayton homeowners in need

DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) – Hundreds of volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got to work to fix up homes in Dayton neighborhoods on Saturday.

Around two dozen volunteers from Shiloh Church helped with installing new windows, landscaping, painting and other repairs at a home in Dayton.

“It’s extravagant,” homeowner Kimberly Hayes said. “It’s overwhelming a little bit, but it’s all good.”

Hayes has lived in the same home for 20 years. She said these repairs were overdue.

“It’s truly a blessing, it’s a blessing,” Hayes said.

Nine homeowners in the Carillon and Edgemont neighborhoods received home repairs Saturday. Volunteers also worked at dozens of other homes doing yardwork.

All of this work being done is part of Rebuilding Together Dayton’s 29th annual National Rebuilding Day.

“To be able to do these home repairs for the homeowners really does make a huge difference, not only for the homeowner, but the neighborhoods that we’re trying to stabilize,” Hank Betts, Rebuilding Together Dayton board chair, said.

Betts also served as house captain for the team of volunteers from Miller Valentine Group. That group replaced the homeowner’s deck, repaired a gate and patched the exterior steps.

In 2023, Rebuilding Together Dayton helped 250 residents in 184 households. The average homeowner the organization helps is 77 years old with an annual income of $21,310.

“These homeowners are on fixed incomes, they’re in low-income neighborhoods, so they don’t have the resources to do a lot of these home repairs, that, as you know, in today’s day and age, can be quite expensive,” Betts said.

Hayes said without Rebuilding Together Dayton, she wouldn’t have been able to make these repairs on her own.

“People are struggling out here today,” Hayes said. “So, yes, it is a program well-needed.”

To learn more about how to apply for Rebuilding Together’s programs, click here .

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