Veterans, public safety officials get help with home repairs in Washington County

When it comes to home repairs, veterans and public officials in Washington County are eligible for free assistance.

Volunteers with the Washington, Iowa chapter of House of Heroes, a national nonprofit organization, complete tasks ranging from handicap ramp installation to mowing lawns.

'Anything we can get in to help people,” said Russ Parker, a House of Heroes board member in Washington.

Those who are eligible include military veterans who have been honorably discharged, and those who have worked in public safety or law enforcement, such as firefighters and EMTs. They also must live in Washington County and own and reside in their homes and present documentation that verifies their service. Widows of those who would qualify also are eligible.

'We don't require them to make any donation,” Parker said, but added that 'everybody expresses their gratitude in one way or another.”

House of Heroes, which was established in 2000, has seven chapters nationally, and the one in Washington County is the only one in the state, Parker said.

Dan McClure, a fellow board member, said he would estimate the Washington County chapter has completed dozens of projects.

'Some of these projects are one-day things, and it's over,” McClure said. 'I would say we're probably into the hundreds, counting some of the one-day projects that are never reported.”

House of Heroes uses money donated by businesses and individuals to purchase supplies.

'I'm so thankful for them,” said Ruth Bellinger, a daughter of a veteran, whose mother recently had a ramp installed in her home. 'They're just a wonderful blessing to honor our (veterans).”

Bellinger, whose mother is 'more or less wheelchair-bound,” said the application process was simple and straightforward.

'She's able to get out now and see the property without worrying about falling,” Bellinger said. 'Hopefully we can get out and about a little more often ... I plan to take her for walks kind of around the neighborhood a little bit.”

Parker said he has about 15 volunteers and gets a lot of help via the local high school's Silver Cord program. Parker said they are trying to get more people involved.

The maximum the program tends to spend on each project is $2,500, but in some instances it is able to reuse materials from past projects.

McClure and Parker said all of the projects completed by House of Heroes are done according to code. McClure added the completion of some of the projects also raises the value of the homes.

Once a year, Parker said House of Heroes has a banquet for the people who had a project completed at their home.

'At the banquet, everyone that we did a job for gets a flag flown over the capitol,” Parker said.

'I just wish it was used more often,” McClure said about the program. 'It's relevantly unknown.”

Parker said he would like to see more people outside the city of Washington apply for help.

'They're just wonderful people,' Bellinger said. ”That whole mission is just very, very honorable.”