About 70 homes belonging to veterans, senior citizens and the economically disadvantaged will get structural upgrades and other improvements under a partnership with Home Depot Foundation and community groups, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl announced today.

The foundation is providing a $500,000 grant to help pay for the projects, which will include electrical and plumbing upgrades, structural work, weatherization improvements and installation of wheelchair ramps. Mr. Ravenstahl’s ServePGH initiative will provide volunteers to do some of the work, and a variety of nonprofit groups, including Nazareth Housing Services and Three Rivers Center for Independent Living, also will lend a hand.

“We’re excited to be partnering with the Home Depot Foundation, yet again, to improve the quality of life for our city’s most vulnerable residents,” Mr. Ravenstahl said.

The foundation previously provided $10,000 for Love Your Block, a ServePGH initiative that’s given facelifts to 11 city blocks to far.

Community groups will help select homes for the new initiative, to be called the Sustainable Home Improvement Partnership. Mr. Ravenstahl, Home Depot Foundation and other groups kicked off the project this morning at Southwestern Veterans’ Center in Lincoln-Lemington.

“The cornerstone of our lives is usually the place we call home, where we gather with our families and friends, and we are proud that our grant funding and the volunteer efforts of our associates will help the Sustainable Home Improvement Partnership to repair and refurbish homes for those who are most in need of help,” Kelly Caffarelli, president of the Home Depot Foundation, said.

Many of the homes will be in East Liberty, Garfield, Homewood and Larimer.

First published on October 12, 2011 at 1:53 pm