Today one of those partners, the Fuller Center for Housing of Berrien County, was planning to begin repairs on its first house. Grogran is this county’s construction coordinator.

The house, at 701 Maiden Lane in Benton Harbor, has a leaking roof and water damage and will cost about $2,500 to fix.

Grogan said roof work is planned for today and Sunday and other work on the house will follow. If it’s too windy today Grogan will not allow roof work to proceed.

The kinds of projects the organization takes on will distinguish it from other housing ministries in the area, said Dan Teich, president of the board for the Berrien County Fuller Center. Teich is also a senior engineering manager at Whirlpool Corp.

Rather than build or rehabilitate houses in Benton Harbor, as Harbor Habitat for Humanity does, the Fuller Center will do smaller projects all over Berrien County, Teich said.

The center will work on projects such as reroofing, installing new windows and overhauling plumbing and heating/air-conditioning systems, Teich said. The center won’t be doing cosmetic repairs, such as new coats of paint or wallpaper.

Teich said he met with Harbor Habitat leadership, and the two organizations could work as partners in the future, but they are addressing two different needs. Harbor Habitat provides houses that could cost between $60,000 and $80,000 and builds mostly in Benton Harbor. With that same amount of money, the Fuller Center could do smaller repairs for many more Berrien County residents.

“We saw a tremendous need in Berrien County to do that,” Teich said. “We’re filling in that gap of the very, very small projects up to the medium-size projects.”

But it means the center has to choose its projects carefully.

“We try to pick a house where we can do the most good with what we have,” Grogan said.

Debra Malone, the owner of the Maiden Lane house, sent in the center’s first application, Grogan said.

Malone is an employee of Comfort Keepers, an organization that helps senior citizens live independently in their homes.

Grogan said the project should take about two days and will be completed with the help of many volunteers. Money came from individual donations and donations from area churches. Schultz Roofing Supply in Benton Harbor is providing the materials at cost, Grogan said.

The project is part of the center’s Greater Blessing Box Program, built on the philosophy that it’s better to give than to receive.

Through Greater Blessing, homeowners pay back the cost of the materials in monthly installments, Grogan said. That money is then used on future projects.

The homeowners “are paying it forward. It’s a blessing for everybody,” Grogan said. The payments are made to be affordable, but it’s up to the homeowner to make them. The center won’t repossess the homeowner’s roof if the payments don’t get made.

“We do it all on faith,” Grogan said.

The program helps people who may not want to apply for more traditional charity projects, Grogan said. “People in need can get looked over because they don’t want to take charity – their pride’s too big.

“It’s not charity,” he said. “Their money helps other people.”

Berrien County residents can apply for house repairs using applications available at the Berrien County Department of Human Services in Benton Harbor, the Mosaic Resale Shop in Benton Township, the First Church of God and the Area Agency on Aging in St. Joseph. To be eligible, applicants have to be homeowners making no more than 50 percent of the average median income for Berrien County and meet other requirements.

Grogan said the applications will be available at fullercenterofberriencounty.org when that website becomes operational.

kgenellie@TheH-P.comDebra Malone, the owner of the Maiden Lane house, sent in the center’s first application, Grogan said. Malone is an employee of Comfort Keepers, an organization that helps senior citizens live independently in their homes.Grogan said the project should take about two days and will be completed with the help of many volunteers. Money came from individual donations and donations from area churches. Schultz Roofing Supply in Benton Harbor is providing the materials at cost, Grogan said.

The project is part of the center’s Greater Blessing Box Program, built on the philosophy that it’s better to give than to receive.

Through Greater Blessing, homeowners pay back the cost of the materials in monthly installments, Grogan said. That money is then used on future projects.

The homeowners “are paying it forward. It’s a blessing for everybody,” Grogan said. The payments are made to be affordable, but it’s up to the homeowner to make them. The center won’t repossess the homeowner’s roof if the payments don’t get made.

“We do it all on faith,” Grogan said.

The program helps people who may not want to apply for more traditional charity projects, Grogan said. “People in need can get looked over because they don’t want to take charity – their pride’s too big.

“It’s not charity,” he said. “Their money helps other people.”Berrien County residents can apply for house repairs using applications available at the Berrien County Department of Human Services in Benton Harbor, the Mosaic Resale Shop in Benton Township, the First Church of God and the Area Agency on Aging in St. Joseph. To be eligible, applicants have to be homeowners making no more than 50 percent of the average median income for Berrien County and meet other requirements.Grogan said the applications will be available at fullercenterofberriencounty.org when that website becomes operational.

kgenellie@TheH-P.com