Keeping
Cleveland Heights
in good repair!

For a woman who is sole head of house—especially when income is limited—managing home repairs can be a challenge. Home How-To for Women is a series designed to give women homeowners on a limited income the confidence and experience to take charge of the maintenance needs of their homes. Among the benefits of the program is an in-home consultation with course instructor Jim Kunselman, where each participant learns what repairs her house needs and which of them she might learn to do herself. (To view a brief segment on Home How-To that was shown on "Ideas," a program produced by WVIZ, Cleveland's PBS station, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQu1FMPIAbk.)

Absolutely no previous experience is required! During the six-month program, introductory classes in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing repairs are held in our Teaching Center (take a Virtual Tour of our workshop facility.) The class on "Measuring, Cutting, and Connecting Wood," for example, gives each woman an opportunity to use a variety of hand and power tools as she constructs her own tool box. "On-site" classes then allow class members to apply the skills they have mastered to real repairs in the homes of program participants! Each woman has one repair done by classmates in her home. Some of these projects are modest, and some are more ambitious. (Past projects have ranged from adding new electrical outlets to re-roofing a garage!)

The cost of the program is modest. Each woman pays a $35 materials fee. In addition, she pays the cost of the materials installed during the workshop held at her house. (A no-interest loan is available to spread out repayment for more expensive projects.)

Participants must meet the following four criteria:
  • Woman homeowner/occupant of Cleveland Heights house
  • Sole head-of-house
  • Household income (projected gross for the next year) within the following guidelines:

    • family of 1: $45,375
    family of 2: $51,875
    family of 3: $58,325
    family of 4: $64,825
    family of 5: $70,000
    family of 6: $75,200
                updated 11/09

  • Willing and able to make six-month commitment
    (one 3-hour class per week; each participant to attend 16 of 25 classes.)

Although the program requires a substantial time commitment from the participants, the reward is personal attention and "hands-on" experience, with many opportunities to use tools and practice repair techniques. Moreover, the attendees—who all share the sole responsibility for maintaining a house—work and learn together, developing a real support system for one another. Participants are awarded a diploma and attend a graduation ceremony after completion.

Interested women are encouraged to call Becky Stager at Home Repair Resource Center (216-381-9560) to be sent program information for the next course offering. We interview applicants near the beginning of each calendar year for that year's class. (The course generally runs from late April through October.) Most classes for the 2010 course offering will be held on Thursday evenings, with a very few larger projects held on Saturdays.