Habitat for Humanity receives $1.25 million donation from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to help improve wellness of low-income older Americans by combining home repairs with health care services

ATLANTA, July 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation today announced a gift of $1.25 million to Habitat for Humanity to support aging-in-place services for low-income older adults. Habitat will implement a program designed by Johns Hopkins School of Nursing that combines services in nursing and occupational therapy with Habitat's expertise in home repairs. The Community Aging in Place – Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE) program will be implemented by Habitat organizations in five communities in the United States.

"We are grateful for the generous donation from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, which will allow us to better address the important ties between home and health for older Americans," said Rebecca Hix, director of neighborhood revitalization for Habitat for Humanity International. "Through the CAPABLE program, we will work in partnership with health care professionals to help homeowners stay healthy and safe as they grow older in their homes."

"Helping low-income and vulnerable older adults to age in their communities with independence and dignity is one of our biggest areas of giving and we're thrilled to begin this new partnership with Habitat for Humanity," said Aaron Merki, managing director for programs and grants for The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. "We believe combining health services with home repairs will make aging in place safer and healthier for the over 80 percent of Americans growing older in their homes."

The CAPABLE program will be implemented over the next two years in five communities across the United States by Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Philadelphia Habitat for Humanity, Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland and Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna. Local Habitat organizations will implement the program by assessing the overall condition of a house and working in partnership with the homeowner and local health care providers to prioritize critical home repairs that will improve the health, usability, and safety of the home and its owner.

The CAPABLE program is based on the idea that disabilities in older adults result from a combination of medical and environmental factors. Researchers from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing identified low-income adults as being more vulnerable to these factors because they tend to have reduced access to primary care and an increased likelihood of living in homes needing critical repairs, but often lack the physical or financial resources to address them. Throughout the two-year period, local Habitat organizations will work closely with the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing to measure and analyze results.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.

About The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private charitable foundations in the United States, provides approximately $100 million in annual grants to nonprofits that provide direct services to low-income and vulnerable individuals and families, primarily in the United States and Israel. Grants are focused on meeting basic needs and enhancing an individual's ability to meet those needs with emphasis on older adults, the Jewish community, and the Foundation's priority communities of Maryland, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, rural communities in the United States, and the State of Israel. The trustees, some of whom also serve as executive officers of the Foundation, are Chair Robert T. Kelly, Jr., Donn Weinberg, Alvin Awaya, Fay Hartog-Levin, and Paula B. Pretlow. Rachel Garbow Monroe serves as the Weinberg Foundation's President and Chief Executive Officer. For more information, please visit www.hjweinbergfoundation.org

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SOURCE Habitat for Humanity