Rebuilding Together and Unum Group Volunteers Bring Smile to Homeowner’s Face

More than 20 years ago, Richard fulfilled his dream of homeownership by purchasing his townhome in Smyrna, Georgia. It’s an accomplishment he never could have imagined decades ago as a Black youth growing up at a time when housing discrimination was not only common, but legal.

A retired U.S. postal service employee, Richard lives on a low fixed income, like many older adults. It makes paying for home repairs increasingly difficult as inflation has driven up maintenance costs. At the same time, nearby housing development has increased home values, causing Richard’s property taxes to rise. Not only have repairs become more costly, but more difficult, as Richard has arthritis.

His 1980s-era home required essential repairs, which included rotted siding made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) – an inexpensive material that could not stand up to the region’s humidity and pests. A neighbor reported the deteriorated siding, which had fallen off in spots, to the local code enforcement office. The City of Smyrna referred him to the local Rebuilding Together affiliate for assistance.

Rebuilding Together Atlanta, with support from Unum Group and Community Development Block Grant funds, stepped in to help Richard with repairs. Contractors replaced the siding and painted it, as well as repaired the chimney, while volunteers helped with other repairs and modifications – all at no cost to Richard. 

Unum Group employees, participating in the company’s volunteer day of service on November 7, 2023, installed a handheld shower and grab bars in the bathroom. Other interior improvements included replacement light bulbs and the addition of a fire extinguisher. On the exterior, they added lighting and street numbers to his home, cleaned up the yard, and built two accessible garden beds and a bench for Richard on the patio. 

That day, volunteers also made improvements to the home of Richard’s neighbor, Edith. The neighbors have much in common – both are the same age, long-term Smyrna residents and retirees living on low incomes who needed a hand with home repairs. For Edith’s home, the volunteers painted a screened-in porch and exterior trim, beautified the landscaping, and installed carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Between the two houses, they helped eliminate 17 health and safety hazards.

Richard, who has been deaf since he was a young boy, used American Sign Language to repeatedly communicate “thank you” during the project. The improvements and modifications addressed his home’s building code violations and are making it easier for Richard to safely age in place.