Park Hill Resident Takes Lead at Housing Nonprofit, Launches New Initiative
By Erin Vanderberg, Editor
Park Hill’s Jeff Martinez does not waste any time. Shortly after being named president of Brothers Redevelopment, a Denver-based nonprofit that provides housing and related services to thousands of low-income senior and disabled residents each year, Martinez – who has been with the organization for 12 years, most recently as its vice president – announced a new Neighborhood Caretakers initiative to assist elderly residents with minor and urgent home repairs.
Beginning in February, senior and disabled homeowners living n Northeast Park Hill, Cole, Skyland and other nearby neighborhoods may call on Brothers for help in improving their in-home mobility or safety, or to make important exterior repairs.
“These neighborhoods have a sizable number of low-income senior residents who have owned their respective homes for decades and, while maintaining a high degree of pride in ownership, now find themselves unable to address the daunting physical and financial challenges required to maintain or make basic and urgent repairs on their homes,” said Martinez.
Martinez sees the project as a way to serve senior homeowners facing limitations.
“In addition to serving these residents in this way, we’ll also be protecting their most important investment and hopefully preserving property values,” said Martinez.
Through the initiative, Brothers Redevelopment will complete up to $2,500 in home repairs for qualified residents. The scope of service includes:
- In-Home Mobility and Accessibility;
- In-Home Safety and Injury Prevention;
- Essential Home Maintenance and Repair;
- Subcontractor Management for More Urgent Repair; and
- Exterior House Painting/Yard Cleanup.
The Neighborhood Caretakers program is made possible through a grant from the Anschutz Foundation. Brothers currently has enough funds to serve approximately 15-20 homeowners, and Martinez and his team are actively working to raise additional funds. Program participants must meet some age and income guidelines.
Additionally, this year Brothers Redevelopment will celebrate its 35th anniversary season of its Annual Paint-A-Thon event beginning in March and concluding in September. Martinez estimates that the program has painted at least 40 Park Hill homes, free of charge, in the past decade. Brothers is seeking volunteer teams of 8 to 10 individuals to participate in this year’s Paint-A-Thon event.
Visit brothersredevelopment.org, email info@brothersredevelopment.org, or call 303-202-6340 for more information on these and other Brothers Redevelopment programs.