A Brush With Kindness (ABWK)
A Brush With Kindness (ABWK) is a home repair ministry program offered through Gwinnett/Walton Habitat for Humanity that provides basic interior and exterior home repair services for low to moderate-income homeowners who reside within the Gwinnett and Walton Counties service area. ABWK assists homeowners who are unable to complete repairs on their own due to age, finances, or physical ability.
Important Notice: The A Brush With Kindness Home Repair Program is currently accepting applications from homeowners who have a need for the following repairs:
- Exterior Painting of One-Story Home
- Front and Rear Deck Repair to ensure sage entrance and egress from home
- Aging in Place Projects repairs that will reduce preventable injuries, improve general safety, increase accessibility, and improve their functional abilities in their homes.
- Example Aging in Place Home Modifications could include: ramps, grab bars, shower cut outs, ADA toilets, handrails, etc.
Home Repair Services Offered
Home Preservation
Exterior services that help preserve the home that are eligible through this program include:
- Power wash exterior siding of home
- Minor repairs to siding, fascia, and soffit
- Scrape and paint exterior of home
- Gutter cleaning
- Landscaping
Aging in Place Modifications
Include services to modify homes for people 60 and over that will increase their activities of daily living so that they can remain in their homes and live safely and securely as they age. Modifications can be for current or anticipated future needs of the older adults living the home. Modifications could include:
- Wheelchair Ramps
- Step Repair
- Handrails/Railings/Grab bars
- Tub Cut Outs
- Handheld Shower Head Extension
- ADA Compliant Toilets
- Changing turn style door and faucet handles to level style handles
Critical Home Repair
Includes all interior work and extensive exterior work performed to address health and safety issues or code violations to ensure a safe and healthy living environment that encourages continued ownership. Eligible projects must demonstrate one of these basic health or safety needs:
- Fire Safety - installation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Home Safety - repair/replacement of non-functional doors, locks, windows, and security doors; improved exterior lighting; repair/replacement of gates, porches, steps, and walkways that are non-functional and prevent egress in event of emergency
- Minor Electrical - light fixtures, outlets, and switches
Ineligible Repair Services
The Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity ABWK Home Repair Program is meant to meet a need of Gwinnett residents’ homes by keeping the homes safe, dry, accessible, and code/HOA compliant. ineligible activities include cosmetic or luxury improvements on the property, repairs to outbuildings, or garages unless connected to the property (and a source of code or safety concern), and improvements/installation of porches/decks that do not affect safe egress.
Cosmetic improvements include but are not limited to: ongoing-landscaping work, tree removal, additions, fireplaces, pools, hot tubs, kitchen/bath cabinetry, and driveway or sidewalk repair/replacement (except in cases where it is deemed necessary for Aging In Place
safety).
Additionally, due to safety concerns for our volunteers, no repair work will be performed on homes where work will require volunteers or staff to go higher than two stories in the air.
How Do I Apply?
Eligibility:
If you have questions about the ABWK program, email abwk@habitatgwinnett.org or call 770-931-8080.