'Angels' help shelter home

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'Angels' help shelter home

Program steps in after workers leave house without roof

Helser

The Arizona Republic,Phoenix,AZ

Dec. 9, 2006 12:00 AM

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1209b2roof120

9.html

Carol Alford is the sort of woman who finds it tough to turn her

back on someone in a jam.

So when a stray puppy showed up on her front porch recently, Alford

didn't hesitate to take her in and provide her with a permanent roof

over her head.

But when the 78-year-old retiree found herself in a wet mess last

spring because of that same roof, she soon gave up all hope of being

rescued by anyone with a kind heart. advertisement

" We had leaks in our roof and with the money our insurance company

gave us, we paid someone to fix it, " said the mom of six,

grandmother of 13 and great-grandmother of seven.

The workers took off the entire high-pitched roof of her central

Phoenix home.

Then they took off with her money.

Family members quickly covered the bare trusses with blue plastic

tarps as summer rains moved into the Valley.

" I'd watch the sky and the minute it looked like rain, I'd get out

every pot and pan I had that would hold water, " Alford said.

But it wasn't long before the rains ruined the interior of her 1932

vintage home, damaging wood floors, walls and ceilings while

providing a perfect environment for mold.

Securing a loan was futile, and while family members were willing to

donate some cash, estimates as high as $14,500 for a new roof put

the home improvement beyond Alford's financial reach.

" I was so upset that I lost 37 pounds, " said the normally slender

senior, who has shared the Tudor-style house with her husband, Burl,

for the past 45 years. " The neighbors were complaining because of

the tarps and I couldn't blame them. I was so embarrassed that I

wouldn't go out in the front yard. "

One of her neighbors, who is the president of her F.Q. Story

Historic District's preservation association steering committee,

introduced Alford to her salvation.

" I put her in touch with Dee Larson and Angels on Call, who does

small repairs for people in need, " said Steve Dreiseszun.

But this was no small repair.

" And I made her no promises, " said Larson, program manager for

Angels on Call, the Valley-wide program sponsored by Stardust

Building Supplies Inc. that provides no-cost home repairs to

homeowners on low, fixed incomes.

" We usually don't do jobs as big as roofs, " said Larson, who said

the 6-year-old program is more inclined to have its team of skilled

volunteers tackle leaky pipes, install hot-water heaters or paint

the exterior of a house or two with materials secured from the two

Stardust warehouses. " But this seemed like a special case. "

After a few phone calls, Larson, who has worked for Angels on Call

since September, was able to get ABC Supply Company in Mesa to

donate all the roofing supplies, Gryphon Companies Inc. in Mesa to

provide the labor at a discounted price, Homewerx Home Inspections

in Mesa to analyze her mold problem for free and Global Prevention

Services in sdale to donate the products for the mold

remediation.

Normally, Angels On Call provides not only the materials but also

the labor at no charge to qualifying homeowners.

" But in this case, since we were not using people from our labor

pool of volunteers, she will have to pay for the labor, " said Todd

Singley, executive director of Stardust Building Supplies.

Still, Alford will save more than $8,000 on roofing materials.

The new roof and mold-free home will help Alford secure a reverse

mortgage so she can make other much-needed home repairs.

" A man in the neighborhood is going to make me new windows and

replace things like my front door and we'll also paint the outside, "

Alford said. " Then one of my grandsons is going to help me fix up

the yard. "

Alford figures it will be six months before she can get her home

back in shape and maybe even longer before her health catches up.

" I think I've gained back a little weight, but I've been so down

about this that I couldn't talk about it without crying, " she said.

That was until Larson came into her life.

" God sent her to me, " said Alford, who once feared she would

accidentally burn down her parish church because of all the candles

she lighted there, seeking divine intervention.

But Angels On Call is just getting geared up to help others.

" Our goal is to do two to three smaller projects in a week and in a

year, be doing six to eight a week or 200 to 300 projects a year, "

Singley said.

Those eligible for help from Angels On Call must be referred by an

agency, such as a church, school, hospital or shelter.

They must also own their home, which cannot be a trailer, and be

sustained by a low, fixed income.

Those of any age can qualify.

Repairs must be considered necessary for safety, security or quality

of life.

Anyone wishing to volunteer labor may also contact Larson.