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Tomorrow’s Home Foundation (THF) is a non-profit charitable organization created by the Wisconsin Housing Alliance in 1999…to help people like 83-year-old Sally Murphy.
“The roof on my home is very bad. It’s been this bad for three years and won’t survive snow and ice, I’m told.”
Tomorrow’s Home Foundation provides emergency assistance for critical home repairs, such as a new roof, furnace, water heater, windows, doors, handicap accessibility, etc., that allow individuals and families to stay in their aging manufactured, modular or mobile home. THF also creates a mode for disposing of old, uninhabitable and unsightly mobile homes.
“I called three different agencies and was finally referred to Tomorrow’s Home Foundation. I do not know what I would have done otherwise.” says 70-year-old Sandra Joepeck of Green Bay, who received a new water heater only two days after she submitted her application.
Our recipients are low or very low income, and are mainly elderly and/or disabled. Sally, for instance, receives social security and lives with her disabled son, who receives disability.
The Foundation assists populations that are underserved by other programs. Many charitable and public service agencies do not provide assistance to people in manufactured housing, especially if they’re in a community and don’t own the land. This is a primary reason we started Tomorrow’s Home Foundation.
“I called three different agencies and was finally referred to Tomorrow’s Home Foundation. I do not know what I would have done otherwise.” says 70-year-old Sandra Joepeck of Green Bay, who received a new water heater only two days after she submitted her application.
We pride ourselves with how promptly we’re able to assist our recipients, especially those
without running water or a furnace, frozen pipes, etc. We received a letter from Tina Dayton of La Crosse, Wisconsin, concerned about mold in her bathroom shower. Her husband was out of work due to an injury, and she stays at home taking care of her 8-year-old special needs daughter. Besides her daughter’s disability check, their only source of income is $600 a month in wages from their 21-year-old son.
It took just over a month from the time we received Tina’s letter until the contractor had completed the repairs and eradicated the mold. “I just want to thank you all for helping our family get this stuff taken care of. You truly are a blessing and my hero.”
Applicants for our grant programs must own their home and have lived there for a year or more, and the home must be a 1976 model or newer. Income must be at or below 50% of the county medium income. So if they’re only receiving social security or disability, they will likely qualify.
Lorry Nieves (56 years old and disabled) of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, was brought to tears when told she had been approved for a new water heater. “Thank you to everyone who was involved in bringing me such joy and thankfulness!”
Tomorrow’s Home Foundation programs are partially funded by state and/or federal grants. Most grant programs require matching funds of 50%. THF matches funding at 100% through generous member donations.
Since its creation, Tomorrow’s Foundation has assisted about 700 Wisconsin families with the purchase or rehabilitation of their home. Plus, almost 500 old mobile homes have either been recycled or landfilled.
For more information, visit tomorrowshomefoundation.org or contact Laurie Mercurio at (608) 255-1088 or laurie@housingalliance.us. ##
By Laurie Mercurio
Wisconsin Housing Alliance
Tomorrow’s Home Foundation
