A Brush With Kindness is a nation-wide housing preservation program serving low income homeowners impacted by age, disability and family circumstances who struggle to maintain the exterior of their homes.

It will use skilled volunteers from faith communities, donated materials and no-interest loans to make repairs affordable, helping homeowners to live independently, securely and safely in their homes. The work will focus on exterior home repair such as repair to stairs, decks and walkways, exterior clean-up, painting and other minor exterior repairs. Most of these projects are short term—carried out in a day or weekend.

A Brush With Kindness contributes to Habitat’s holistic community development strategy in two ways.

First, it can help revitalize the appearance of a neighborhood, therefore strengthening connections within the community.

Secondly, the program increases the opportunity for faith communities to put their faith into action by providing volunteers, therefore developing cooperative relationships in our community.

At present, the A Brush With Kindness program activities have been suspended at McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity in order to conduct a long-term feasibility assessment. When the project reopens, there will be many ways that individuals, groups, churches and businesses can contribute to McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity and the A Brush With Kindness project.

Check out this News-Register article about A Brush With Kindness published on July 10, 2010.