Builders Care, a program of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA), has received a $5,000 grant from the National Housing Endowment.
“It has been over one year since the Northeast Florida Builders Association heeded a call to help Jacksonville’s elderly, disabled and disadvantaged citizens,” said NEFBA President Denise Wallace, who accepted the grant last month during the National Association of Home Builders International Builders Show in Las Vegas.
The Northeast Florida Builders Association launched Builders Care in October 2001, a program that has touched the lives of so many.
Builders Care performs renovations and emergency repairs on homes owned by senior citizens, the disadvantaged and disabled. The program has repaired over 150 houses since it was started.
“Our ultimate goal is to lessen substandard housing in Duval County,” said Ken Kuester, Builders Care chairman. “There are statistics that show there are between 45,000 to 60,000 substandard dwellings in Jacksonville.”
Builders Care was an evolution of Habitat Resources, which began through a partnership with HabiJax, the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.
“The grant will allow Builders Care to continue the mission of helping the needy. The mission of Builders Care is to respond to the needs of the community,” said Wallace.
“We want to restore dignity to these people’s lives,” Kuester said. “Most of them are survivors, putting up with unbelievable living conditions, but they deserve to live better.”
Builders Care holds a volunteer day on the third Saturday of each month.
Call Builders Care at 727-3443 for more information.