Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

A Brush with Kindness is a program of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity that helps low-income homeowners struggling to restore and maintain a safe and decent place to live.

Many low-income homeowners live in challenging circumstances which create issues that are beyond what they can handle alone. You may know of a neighbor, parent or grandparent who is struggling to keep their home in a livable condition. Homeowners must often choose between paying for food, medication, taxes, and basic utilities.

When basic family expenses exceed income month after month, home maintenance is the usual casualty. Years of deferred maintenance can cause a downward spiral of home deterioration and unsafe living conditions. Outside forces also play a role in putting the squeeze on low-income homeowners. Often they are faced with city code violations and homeowner insurance cancellation when their home is in disrepair.

Many of our homeowners have worked years to maintain their homes and now find themselves in an awkward and sometimes embarrassing position of asking for help. A Brush with Kindness helps ease wary homeowner concerns by providing home preservation services that are sensitive to homeowner circumstances.

After completing and application process, A Brush with Kindness provides caring volunteer groups who are willing to come alongside and assist homeowners in completing the necessary work. Able-bodied homeowners work also side by side with volunteers in a cooperative effort.

A Brush with Kindness is a program about connecting people and restoring homes through simple acts of kindness so that homeowners can once again live in a safe and decent home.

"I have lived in my home for 57 years. The place is filled with some many memories that the thought of giving it up because of maintenance was difficult. Thanks to your generosity, I can can continue to live with my gardens and memories and even create some new ones—like the kindness of the volunteers who made it possible." —A Brush with Kindness Homeowner

Sign up to Volunteer for this program.