Volunteers needed to help Dallas senior and disabled communities

Eleven percent of all seniors age 65 plus in Dallas County live at or below the poverty level. Seemingly minor exterior home repairs like fixing a broken handrail, steps or a porch are out of reach for many seniors due to lack of money and/or disability.

Since 1985, the City of Dallas’ People Helping People Program (PHP) has been helping senior and disabled homeowners with minor exterior home repairs at no cost through PHP’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Common repair projects include replacing rotted wood, scraping and painting, rebuilding steps and removing open storage from yards.

“High repair costs force the elderly and disabled to delay necessary home repairs,” said PHP Project Coordinator Carla Woolridge. “PHP helps qualified homeowners continue to live in the safe, independent and functional environment of their home.”

PHP has enjoyed three decades of committed volunteerism and service, but the growing need has outpaced its inventory of volunteers in North Texas, home to more than 500,000 seniors and disabled residents.

“We currently have twice as many clients needing help than we do volunteers,” said Woolridge. “The average wait time is currently one to two years; with more volunteers, we could shorten the wait time dramatically and truly enrich the lives of the senior and disabled communities.”

Volunteers of all skill levels are desperately needed to participate in the highly rewarding PHP experience. Each projects typically requires 15-20 volunteers and 8-10 hours to complete. Smaller projects for youth groups are also available.

To learn more about PHP click here.