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 FREE 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! 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!)

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

    • family of 1: $40,050
    family of 2: $45,750
    family of 3: $51,500
    family of 4: $57,200
    family of 5: $61,800
    family of 6: $66,300
                updated 3/3/08

  • 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.

Our current series of "Home How-To" classes (April through October of 2008) is now underway, but we are taking names of potential participants for the 2009 program. Interested women can call Becky Stager at Home Repair Resource Center: 216-381-9560.