Frequently Asked Questions

How often do clients have to register with Home Repair Services?

Qualifying homeowners must provide updated household income information annually.  Homeowners whose primary income is from fixed sources must update their information by January 31 of each year.  Homeowners whose primary income is from salary and wages must update their information by April 15 of each year.

How many different income ranges does Home Repair Services have for access to resources?

Four:

1. Very low income (50% of area median or less) – This is the maximum income level for homeowners under age 60 to receive City of Grand Rapids refuse bags, emergency repairs by the Repair Team and Air Sealing services.
2. Low income (80% of area median or less) – This is the maximum income level for homeowners over age 60 to receive City of Grand Rapids refuse bags.
3. Moderate income (100 % of area median or less) – This is the maximum income level for homeowners to make purchases in the Builders' Abundance Store and rent tools from the Tool Library.  It is also the maximum income level for homeowners over age 60 to receive emergency repairs by the Repair Team.
4. No Income Limits - The Foreclosure Intervention program and Fix-it School classes have no income limits.

Why do you need the income of everyone in the household?

The most accurate way to determine household financial capacity is to account for the income of everyone living in the household.  Contracts with our funders require that we perform this accounting.  Different agencies have different contract terms with their funders so eligibility requirements at Home Repair Services may be different than those at other agencies.

Does Home Repair Services have an Energy Program?

Our Air sealing program is now taking applications from homeowners whose income level is 50% of the area median or less. 

Several Home Repair Services staff members have been trained and certified as home energy specialists.  Pursuing credentialing by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) helps ensure that our work reflects the very best of current building science. 

Why are the Home Repair Services phones busy sometimes?

We have three full time intake specialists. One of the intake specialists is assigned exclusively to receiving new Foreclosure Intervention cases. As a result, the volume of incoming calls is sometimes too great for the other two intake specialists to provide an immediate response.  The intake specialists have voicemail for those times when they cannot answer the phone.

Does Home Repair Services use volunteers?

Yes, in limited numbers.  We maintain a list of volunteer positions on our website.  You can complete and return our Volunteer Skills Questionnaire If you're interested in one of these positions.

Is Builders' Abundance a thrift store?

No.

Thrift stores are 1) open to the general public and 2) intended to raise money for other operations and programs.
Builders' Abundance is 1) restricted to qualifying homeowners who are registered with Home Repair Services and 2) subsidized by Home Repair Services operating revenues as a primary mission of the organization. 
 
To make Builders' Abundance affordable for lower-income homeowners we maintain prices at approximately 25% of those that might be found in a retail home improvement store.
 
Builders' Abundance costs approximately $400,000 to operate each year. Sales receipts from purchases amount to approximately $150,000 a year.  The balance of the operating cost must be subsidized.

Is Home Repair Services concerned about Lead Poisoning?

Yes, we have been a leader in this area since 2001.  Today we partner with the Healthy Homes Coalition to offer advice and literature to our customers concerning lead-safe painting and remodeling. Home Repair Services is an EPA Certified Firm and all of our Repair Team staff members are certified in lead-safe work practices.

Is Home Repair Services concerned about homeowner health and safety?

Yes.  Most of our repair work is focused on health and safety – sanitation, heat, safe wiring, security, safe entry and exit and keeping houses dry.  In addition we have polices that address risks caused by carbon monoxide, falls, scalding, fire (we always have smoke detectors in stock), radon and sanitation.

Is Home Repair Services concerned about how houses look from the street?

We love to see homeowners make improvements to the outside of their homes.  We support and encourage exterior home improvements in our Fix-it School classes and by providing resources for exterior home improvements in the Builders' Abundance store and in our Tool Library.  Since our repair work focuses on health and safety issues, most of the Repair Team's effort occurs inside the home where it does not show.  We'll continue to prioritize health and safety issues over exterior renovations for the use of our limited repair funds.

How does Home Repair Services decide how much to charge for its services?

Our Repair Team charges 10% of the estimated cost of emergency repairs.  Prices in the Builders' Abundance store are typically 25% of what we think the item would sell for in a retail home improvement store.  Tool rental fees range from $1 to $10 per week.  Foreclosure counseling, Fix-it School classes and Air Sealing are provided free of charge.