April 17, 2018

Building Community—and New Roofs—in Toledo with Habitat for Humanity

Maumee Valley Habitat 1

When the City of Toledo realized just how many roofs were in disrepair in the City – 15,000 – and that residents couldn’t afford to fix them, they wanted to do something.  It started with a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), one of the longest continually run programs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and led to funding to expand Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity’s home repair program. It also spurred partnerships with several companies in the roofing and construction industry who wanted to help.

Roofers repair roofs

Roofers repair roofs as part of Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity’s home repair program. (Photo courtesy of Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity)

As we all know, getting a new roof is no small home improvement project, so when the Toledo community learned they could get a new roof at an affordable discount, demand was “through the roof.” More than 900 applicants requested assistance in the first month. Of those who met the requirements for the home repair program, 50 were selected in the first year, with the goal of doing more over time.

Many of the program participants were residents like Margie Manteuffel, an elderly woman who didn’t have the income and resources to take on such a major home project. She was ecstatic to have her new roof. “I can see the roof out my window and every day I look outside and say ‘Thank You, Lord’,” she told Toledo’s ABC-13 news.

Most of the roofs, like Margie’s, were in extremely poor condition prior to the beginning of the project, said Shawn Dillon, the Home Repair Program Manager for Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity.  Recognizing a sense of urgency after completing the initial round of roofs in the first year of the project, Dillon set a goal to increase efficiency by 50% this year—reducing a two-month effort to a month-long initiative.

Roofers repair roofs

Roofers repair roofs as part of Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity’s home repair program. (Photo courtesy of Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity)

That’s where EagleView came in, donating its PremiumReports reports at no cost. The reports provide measurements and data to local roofers and speed up the process so that Dillon and his team can help even more people like Margie.

“It’s a tremendous resource,” Dillon said. “EagleView helps by giving us that crucial information before we even hit the job site.”

With EagleView reports, the organization has been able to provide more home repairs in a shorter period. “Before EagleView, we’d have to head to the site, measure the roof, come back, and make a material list,” said Dillon. “By having an EagleView [report] up front, we decrease time overall.”

The reports also provide an important role in increasing on-the-job safety for roofers, especially when a roof is badly in disrepair.

EagleView has been one of many partners in the roofing and construction industry supporting this important initiative. In addition to using EagleView reports, the home repair program receives donated supplies from Owens Corning. The main laborers on the project are 4 Guys & A Roof and the Johnson Construction Company.

Building stronger communities really is a group effort.

Watch the video to see how the program is changing homes—and lives—in the Toledo area, one roof at a time.

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