HomeAid Inland Empire Remodels Olive Crest Home Built 10 Years Ago
Steadfast to its Mission, HomeAid Inland Empire Remodels Olive Crest Home Built 10 Years Ago
RIVERSIDE, CA (March 30, 2010) --- When Olive Crest, a leader in the prevention and treatment of child abuse, mentioned to HomeAid Inland Empire that their residential homes needed remodeling, the non-profit group was ready to help. They returned to the site, where 10 years earlier, K. Hovnanian Homes had participated in a competition with three other local home builders to build four homes in two weeks at Olive Crest’s Inland Community Children’s Ranch. “It took a bit more than a fresh coat of paint, but it was worth it,” said Jim Perry, division president of K. Hovnanian Homes and HomeAid Inland Empire board member. “Our commitment to building and renovating shelters for temporarily homeless men, women and children is an on-going process. It is rewarding for us to know the residential facilities that we have built in the community are serving their purpose so completely that some renovation work is needed after a number of years. With one house down, there are three to go, still in need of renovation. HomeAid is eager to help but needs builder captains and volunteers to step up to the plate and make it happen.” The HomeAid team of 25 volunteers which renovated the first house, included K. Hovnanian employees and their subcontractors, and was led by Paul Hepler, senior production manager for K. Hovnanian Homes. Hepler, who was on the job 10 years ago delivering furniture to the site, led the renovation project this time around. “We arrived at the Mead Valley house at 7:00 a.m. with a ‘to do’ list and found the house was still in great shape,” said Hepler. “We were happy to help and got right to it, repainting the exterior, pouring cement pads for trash can storage, installing exterior flood lights and brightening up the bathrooms with new light fixtures.” The team also replaced broken roof tiles and delivered and installed 19 appliances and a house full of donated furniture. They finished by 3:00 p.m., just in time for the eight residents, to come home, cook dinner and enjoy their two new comfy couches and love seats. The Olive Crest home is 3,000 square feet, with seven bedrooms, a large family room and dining area, a kitchen and large rear yard. The houses at the Ranch are designed to accommodate group-home living and serve as learning environments for the teens as the gain the skills to live independently and to lead a positive lifestyle. According to Gina Johnson, regional director of development for Olive Crest, the average stay at the Ranch is nine months to a year. Many of the teens are abused, neglected or considered at-risk and were referred by agencies such as Child Protection Services or the Department of Public Social Services. Olive Crest provides safe homes and loving families for abused and neglected children, education and counseling and is dedicated to preventing child abuse and to preserving the family one life at a time. For more information go to www.olivecrest.org. HomeAid is non-profit organization dedicated to building and renovating shelters for temporarily homeless men, women and children, and was established under the auspices of the Baldy View, Desert, and Riverside Chapters of the Building Industry Association of Southern California (www.homeaidie.org). The concept of HomeAid began in Orange County in 1989 when members of the Building Industry Association established HomeAid as a way to support non-profit agencies serving homeless families and individuals in their community by doing what they do best—building. HomeAid Inland Empire was established in1990 and to date has completed 20 housing developments that serve victims of domestic violence, abused and abandoned children and homeless families. They are currently working on the renovation of three other homes and are seeking donations. For more information about HomeAid Inland Empire call (951) 686-0628 or go to www.homeaidie.org. ###
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