Home SHELTER © AWARDS | caring and 3eNerous, our winners bring the As we saw in the aftermath true spirit of home of the recent hurricanes, : a when disaster strikes, to their communities people from all back- grounds and of diverse means reach deep within themselves to provide whatever relief they can for those in need. Of course, such need doesn’t arise only as the result of cataclysmic events—it is i i ever present. So this year we launch the Home Shelter Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations that extend vital support year-round. Our editors studied hundreds of entries detailing compassionate deeds, and then selected five award winners to honor this fall in New York City at a major fund-raising event cosponsored by Bank of America and benefiting Habitat for Humanity’s Hurricane Recovery Effort. We hope their stories, fea- tured on the following pages along with those of a host of worthy honorable mentions, will inspire you to foster the spirit of home in your area—one room, one house, or one park at a time. omenaccou pecenee sce 69Home SHELTER AWARDS John Gonsalves homes for our troops powered by experience, this massachusetts man Surely, John Gon- salves thought someone else was already doing it. But the Massachusetts contractor’ search foran organization providing univer sally accessible homes for severely wounded soldiers returning from Afghanistan and rag proved that that was not the cate. So, inspired by a televised inter view with a group of soldiers describ- ing an attack on their convoy and the resulting carual- ties, he decided to bbuild sucha group from the ground up. Since early 2004, Homes for Our Troops, to which Gonsalves now devotes about 80 hours a week as presicent, has been raising money soliciting building- ‘material donations, and galvanizing hundreds of volun- teers toconstruct or remodel houses for veterans adjusting, tolife with long- term physical dis- abilities—all at no cost to them, Intending to ‘make itso they can maneuver around theirhomes as best they can," says Gon- salves, he and a posse of building pros, most of whom ‘work pro bono, meet with each vet ‘ran to determine specific needs. and 20 years of contracting ‘Sergeant Damon is anarm amputee; Gonsalves says of the recipient ofthe first house HEOT built (nationwide, cight projects are under way), which, was dedicated in October: "So we made sure to install easy-access lever type handles on all the doors, body sprays in the shower, and roll- ‘out trays in the kitchen cabinets” Damon, a mechanic inthe Army National Guard, lost both his armsin anaccident while repairing a Black- hawk helicopter in Iraq, In uly more than, 300 people, 70 of ‘whom were mem: bers of the National Guard, participated in avolunteer day to help complete the construction of Damon’ new Mid- dleboro, Massachu- setts, house. “In the hospital, knew 1 wouldnt ever be able todo the jobs ‘was used todoing again,” says Damon, sho lives with his wile, Jennifer, and ‘wo kids, llura and, anny. Then, he continues, “Homes for Our Troops came along; it was like a big weight was lifted off my shoulders, he says, referring to both the emotional and financial relief the home will pro- vide."Now Lean pay for my kids ed- uucation and go back ta school myselt” ~ Jessica Dheerees Cara me eure rae erie a eee ee eenHome SHELTER AWARDS: 2005 a hospice nurse those in need of They say charity be- gins athome, and | Rita Fiorentinoisliv ing proof. A regis- tered’ murse, she ‘owns and operates the Gathering To- gether, aresidence forthe terminally ill ‘in Plainfield, Inci- ana, that gives the rum of her 1850s Gothic Revival-style house to one family atatime, Tinkerited the gift ot hospitality from my parents” says Florentino, who worked ina hospice inher nativeSan Franciscofor 10 years before relocat- ing to Indiana in 2001."Oneday | went tochurch, and God told me that this iswhere [need to be," she recals,“And the next day Lwent asove ‘outand found this big, beautiful house: nicitt Thefour- bedroom home needed major m= provements, which Fiorentino made over two years with the help of her brother Loy Linebarger a general contractor. With a new, spacious frst floor bedroom, bathroom, parlor, dining r00m, and kitchen, the home is ‘open to patients who arein their last days and weeks of life There wasno pl for primary care- sgiversto get physical ‘and emotional sup port’ Fiorentino ex- plains, So many are ‘older people caring for sick spouses,and they get aver: whelmed and scared, especially atnight” Familiescome to the house trelax and spend time with their loved one free from the stress of meeting everyday needs. A local hos- pice offers nursing tate, medicine, so: cial work, and access tochaplains. Along, swith few volun Rita Fiorentino the gathering together teers, Florentino provides round-the- clock support for the resident family as well asall meals and creature comforts The length of stays not restricted The Gathering gether is funded inppartby donations, bout mostly by Fiorentino herself who still works for = 7 and home to the San Francisco hospice doing night time triage over the phone. Seemingly ‘unfazed by the level ‘of her commitment, Florentino sys, “Itisall wonderfully rewarding. I get tolive ina beautiful home and also fulfil my mission inlife ~ Carolyn WeberOX. Home SHELTER AWARDS: 2005 and Todé Operation pairs and other Fixes forthe South Carotina counties. For more informa tribute, call 85; tonhome.org IFastorm eft you roofless, you'd calla contractor. Ifan ac- cident put you in a wheelchair, you'd hireaproto builda ramp. Butmany people donthave the means to make adjustments to theie living spaces. Instead they put down buckets when itrains and find other ways toclimb steps. ‘Todd Abedon and his ite, Emily Perl- man Abedon he’s realestate investor and she’ freelance swriter—wanted to help. Soin 1997, the ‘couple founded ‘Operation Home in Charleston, South, Carolina, where they reside with their fourchildren ‘Operation Home’ mmission ie to coordi nate emergency house repairs for the region’ severely down-and-out Roof fixes and swheelchair-ramp installations are the most common pro} cts, but the organi- zation also takes on simpler jobs, such as installing air condi- tioners during dan _gerous heat waves. ‘Oftentimes the goal isnothing short of homelessness pre- vention, where swe'te making the repairsnecessary to ‘keep a family living sately in thelr home,” says Todd, who is president of the board; Emily servesasdirectorof communications, The grassroots ‘nonprofit operates largely through a ‘word-of-mouth net work of volunteers, Social workers, for instance, alert Oper ation Home todes- perate cases they observe during rou- tinehousecalls, ‘Most id recipients sre among the approximately 74,000 peoplein Charleston, Dor- ‘ester, and Berke- ley counties who live below the poverty line, Others are hampered by "heirs property" issues, a legal snag that makes them ineligible for government grants The organization does pay contractors and businesses that provide materials, though at cut rates, ‘Nobody out theres asking us for top dol- lar’ says Todd. Stil, the money has to ‘come from some- ‘where, so the group, relieson churches, businesses, andin- dividual donors for funds. Trnalways blown away by how many people are willing to help," he continues. "I think thisis the type of o- ganization that could be duplicated imalotof places across the country” Dan DiClerico Emily & Todd Abedon operation home this south carolina Couple is dedicated to keeping aroof over their neighbors’ headsHome SHELTER AWARDS pomegranate center an artist and community organizer works to bolster the social well-being of neighborhoods nationwide PomegranateCenter, sessthesocilcondi-thatsomeanimosity yearsafteremigrat- and come outof Anonprofitcommu- tionsatSpringwood hadarienamongingfromSlovenla, their houses” says nitydesigmand —_Apartments,oneot __iferenteultueal —“Tnoticedalackof architect Duncan developmentorgan- Washington tates groups withinthe _imaginationand Chalmers, a project, izationbased near lrgestsubsidized community There-_ curios inthe manager Seatlereceiveda _housingprojects.—_searchalsofocused decision-making One solutionat grantin2000t0as-Thestudyrevealed onthe vaiabiltyof _processhesays, Springwood wasa utdoorcommunal ‘and {thoughtthat set of wooden mail- spaces,andiound asanartst could _boxshelters,one that there were bringsomething witha pieni table none."Notevena __moretothe able.”So_and benches. “The bench,’ recall in l9€Ghefounded mailboxes were their Milenko Matanovie, Pomegranate Center versionof the village theorganizations withthe helpota_well~cvery esident enccutiveditector. _privatedonor.Then, had to stop there Matanovicbegan in 1981,helaunched sooner later,” attendinglocal plan theprogramfor——-Matanavic explains. ringmeetings when whichthecenteris “Now, hopeful hearrived inSeattle bestknown:Gather~ they linger and jn 19@4,aboutten ing Places. Based.on —maybemectoncof | the ideathat“the _theirneighbors, | physical design of Since residents ourvillages,towns, help throughout the and cities either process of creating nicer enhances oursocial Gathering Place, Vitality orhindersit” they also gt to know Matanovicandhisoneanother during staffhavesoughtto planning mectings anove revitalize morethan and inthe construc thirty communities tion phase, where like Springwood. they learn how to They do so by build, paint, and dsigningand build- fabricate.“Its the Ing altractive public sum total of these PR RIGHT gatheringspaces. _encountets” such as gardens, Matanovie says playgrounds,and “that createsa sense amphitheaters."We of safety anda feel: ace trying to get peo- ing of home. pletotumofitheTV — —MerylCohen LevinHome SHELTER AWARDS 2005 Operation Backpack i volunteers of america greater new york eases the first day of school for homeless kids | Morethanmere creasing their par~ protection fromthe ents financial bur clements,ahome den. Says MeNeil providesasenseof _“ItSreally about nor | rootednesstonour- mal ishhealthy relation- And with thedis- shipstofamily and ruptionof thelr | community If that schooling, normaley is,youhaveahome. — isata premium, Ac- Butapproximately cording to VOA- | 11,0C0 school-age GNY figures, 62 per- children living nthe centof homeless PORSREUUETTT] New ork Cityshel- children score below want Spokes Ifecpeteridonsbey | gead@leyd rica p sige || although itdoesnit_ ing and'77 percent | Seuieandafel | byl thembomes, are below grade level low voluntecc | Operation Backpack, in math saowriling | aninitaiveof Vole 1n 1999 workersat i \ | unteers of America- VOA-GNY shelters new shoo! | GreterNew ork, (he groupisamsjor | supplieson | doestrytoolfer provider of home- Sort Day. Toget | “some modicum of lest services), seeing volved ort | confidence,'says. _‘Kidsstartschoal_—_2,50Din 2004). about raising public con Linda MeNeil, VOA- each year without ‘When Hurricane awareness," MeNell GNYschiefdevel-ascschoolsuip-_Katrinarocked the says. Helping publi- opmentand plies launcheda Gulf Coastin Au-__cize the 2005 effort | communicaionsof- Grivetocollectthem. — gust, VOA-GNY was were spokespeople ficer How? By giving Theeffor bios: tappedtoreplicate Tom Glavine of the thekidsnewback- somedto include _—itssuccessful pro- New York Metsand packsoutitted with backpacks in 2003, gramforkidsdis- TV personalities new school supplies, and thisyear 7.000 placed by the storm. Paige Davis and Ibuoystheirsense new backpacks were “Itsnotjustabout Tony Danza, Davi, ofhopewhilede- donated (upfrom backpacks, but wha also volun- tered, says, "People really visualized the individual children ‘getting the back- packs and vied to {get the best stuf. ‘VOA-GNY hopes the kids aren't the only onesto benefit, Us mission i also to ‘create opportuni- ties for people to ex- perience the jay of serving others “Joel Bernstein