Repair Affair
New Directions is dedicated to creating safe and habitable homes for low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners. One of the most visible ways we accomplish this mission is through our Repair Affair program. Repair Affair mobilizes community-wide resources and volunteer support to assist these vulnerable homeowners with essential home repairs.
The focus of Repair Affair is on home safety, security, weatherization and neighborhood stability. By simply installing hand rails, fixing broken steps, or making modifications to accommodate a wheel chair we can make it possible for a senior or disabled homeowner to remain independently in their own home. Best of all the assistance is completely free to the recipients.
Each summer, over 1,500 dedicated volunteers armed with tools, materials and resources donated by generous donors make repairs to over 150 home. To date over 30,000 volunteers have performed over 300,000 volunteer hours and repaired over 3,000 homes in Kentuckiana.
Repairs include:
- Exterior painting
- Yard work and clean-up
- Handrails and grab bars
- New locksets
- Door and window repair
- Cleaning out gutters
- Step repair
- Accessibility Improvements
- Minor plumbing repairs
- Wheelchair ramps
How homes are selected
- Recipients must own and reside in the home
- Be at least 60 years old or certified as disabled
- Be of low income (50% of area median income or less)
- Live in Louisville, Kentucky or Floyd or Clark County Indiana
The typical recipient earns less than $13,500 a year and is facing hardship due to illness, job loss, death of a spouse, or other life changing events.
An onsite assessment of each applicant home is conducted to the match right home with the right volunteer team. Volunteer Teams select projects that best fit their team’s skill level and do all the work.
The program focuses on improving home safety, security and weather efficiency. Repair Affair is not a decorating, remodeling or emergency repair program.
Volunteer Teams
Volunteer teams are matched with homes in need based on the size and skills of the team. Every skill level is needed. Every volunteer is welcomed and needed!
Repair Affair is not yet able to reach all the homeowners who need help, but we seek to involve new teams of volunteers each year. Some teams are very skilled at home repairs. Others may have no experience at all. That's okay, New Directions will match the team to an appropriate home!
We also have other volunteer opportunities available, including preparing lunch, being a runner, and writing thank you notes.
When you volunteer for Repair Affair, you are not only helping a neighbor who needs you, you are making a real and immediate impact in your community.
Receive more information about volunteering for Repair Affair.
Event Day
Although repairs are completed from March to September, most Repair Affair teams work on one of two event days in June.
On Event Day, the homes have been chosen. The materials have been purchased and delivered. Battery drills are charged, paint clothes donned and sunscreen is at the ready! Teams meet at the Breakfast of Champions. Here, teams can enjoy a quick breakfast, sign in and get a much-coveted t-shirt. This is a festive time where volunteers meet other teams and see the diversity of Repair Affair's great volunteers. Half of Repair Affair's impact is achieved on Event Day. The rest of the jobs are scheduled to fit into other volunteers' schedules.
2018 Repair Affair Event Dates
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Floyd & Clark Counties Indiana
Saturday, June 9, 2018
Metro Louisville
2017 RESULTS
206 homes received repairs 1097 volunteers participated
2016 RESULTS
186 homes received repairs
1210 volunteers participated
2015 Results
201 homes received repairs
1691 volunteers participated
2014 Results
183 homes received repairs
1818 volunteers participated
2013 results
160 homes received repairs
1609 volunteers participated
Thanks to our 2017 Repair Affair Sponsors
Louisville Metro Government The City of New Albany
Horseshoe Foundation of
Floyd County
PNC Bank
UPS Foundation
Fifth Third Bank
First State Investments
Home Depot
Community Foundation of
Louisville NeighborWorks® America Kentucky Housing Corporation
The Mildred V. Horn Foundation
Bosse-Mattingly Constructors
Saint Mark’s United Church
of Christ
Frost Brown Todd LLC
Bowles Mattress Company
Saint William Church
Kentucky Farm Bureau
Weber Group
Republic Bank and Trust
Catholic Community of
St. Patrick
Grace Immanuel United
Church of Christ
The Housing Partnership, Inc.
Jeffersonville Neighborhood
Leadership Alliance
Messer Construction
St. Gabriel the Archangel
Middletown Christian Church
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Bargain Supply
Würth Snider Bolt and Screw
Stites and Harbison
Wyatt Terrant & Combs
LifeWay FUGE Camps
Heine Brothers Coffee
