Celebrating Impact: How Small Acts of Care Can Transform Lives

Back in August, HOME, Inc. hosted an exclusive home tour for our 2025 Hunt for Housing Visionary Sponsor. It was a behind the scenes look at our under-construction homes which would soon become meaningful family spaces. Led by our Executive Director and Executive Board, the tour provided an inspiring glimpse into our ongoing mission to build not just houses, but homes, hope, and new beginnings for families.

During the tour, as we admired the two side-by-side HOME, Inc. homes in the Beaverdale neighborhood, our Board Vice President, David Nelson, noticed something that many might have overlooked. The backyard was a steep, unusable slope versus a welcoming outdoor space. He immediately thought about the families who would soon be moving into these

homes and the lack of functional yard space.

Both homes in the final phases of construction

David approached our Executive Director, Carrie Woerdeman, with a simple but impactful idea - What if we built a retaining wall to level out the yard and create a usable backyard? Carrie agreed this would be a meaningful improvement, and one that the Development Team had identified at the start of the project. However, after crunching the numbers, they discovered the estimated cost of around $23,000 was well beyond the project's budget.

In the face of this funding challenge, David decided to take action. He rallied his family and together through their generosity and collective effort, they pooled funds to cover the cost of the retaining wall. Fast forward to today, two families have moved into these homes and what was once an unusable slope is now a beautiful backyard where children can play, families can gather, and memories can be made.

This story is a beautiful example of the true power of community and compassion. It's not just about building houses - it's about building a better quality of life. Small actions, driven by care and commitment, can turn challenges into something beautiful and meaningful for our communities and the people around us.

At HOME, Inc., we are deeply grateful for community members like David Nelson, John Charles, and the Nelson Family whose dedication and generosity help us create lasting impact. Together, we are transforming neighborhoods one home at a time and ensuring that every family has a place to truly feel at home.