Painting and clearing brush are only two of the many projects a Vision 2020 group used to help build the community back up a little last week.

The Community Home Improvement Project, known as CHIP, completed its second home improvement blitz in 2015 last week. This year’s goal was to help 20 families, making for close to 40 homes that have been helped by the volunteer-based program over the last three years.

“This is the third year, and it’s fun to just drive past a place that we’ve worked on and made better,” said Geoff Smith, a lead volunteer for CHIP.

CHIP was created in 2013 by Vision 2020’s Community Pride and Spirit committee, Freeborn/Mower Habitat for Humanity and the Austin Housing and Redevelopment Authority. CHIP’s goals are to help homeowners preserve their homes by intervening with needed maintenance to improve the overall appearance of homes in Austin and to build connections among residents.

“It makes it so people that otherwise would struggle to stay in their homes, they are able to get some things done that they just can’t do on their own,” Smith said. “A little help at the right time can make a giant difference.”

Last week, volunteers painted, cleared brush, took down an old building and cleaned overgrown brush and trees, put in a handicap ramp, and more. Smith said some of the projects require professionals, which is when organizers call in contractors to do things such as working with electrical systems, replacing windows or retiling a bathroom floor.

“There’s been some really fun ones,” he said.

He recalled one project that was two homes right next to each other, where both neighbors came out and helped their neighbor’s projects, along with volunteers from Our Saviors Lutheran Church. Smith said even Riverland Community College’s carpentry program has gotten involved.

“Just a lot of different groups that volunteer,” he said.

Smith said depending on the home owner’s needs and resources, CHIP could help them through different partner organizations, help them qualify for available funds, provide loans or grants, or provide volunteer labor. The program only works with home owners currently, but Smith said organizers are always open to ideas of how to get rental properties involved. One hope is for the program to inspire others to fix their own homes when they see neighbors’ homes getting fixed up.

Smith has been excited to see the many volunteers come out during the last three years. He said some help as individuals and families, while others represent numerous organizations and businesses like Mission 507, IBI Data, Rotary, Rotaract, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Hormel Foods Corp., Austin Utilities, Riverland, and many more.

“It’s fantastic, and it certainly wouldn’t happen without all those good folks,” he said. “It’s a real pleasure to work with them and to have all those guys come forward. It really does make you proud to live here.”

Major partners in CHIP include Vision 2020, Habitat For Humanity and the Austin HRA. More than 30 other groups and organizations have also provided volunteers and other support to make the work happen.

The first year, CHIP worked on seven homes but found it was too much to take on with an all-volunteer force, according to Smith. In order for the CHIP program to thrive, it needed someone dedicated to it, which is when Brent Johnson came on part way through 2014. Johnson is the Community Development Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity and is now in charge of coordinating all efforts for CHIP. His position was made possible through Vision 2020 and initially funded by a grant from the Hormel Foundation.

Local volunteers donated more than 1,400 hours of labor in 2014.

Home owners that would like to be considered for the program or volunteers and groups that are looking for a project can contact Johnson at the Habitat for Humanity at 507-433-1349.

Funding and in-kind donations are provided by the Hormel Foundation, United Way of Mower County, Freeborn-Mower Habitat for Humanity and local businesses.

All volunteers are scheduled and led by Habitat for Humanity. No special home improvement skills are needed. Volunteers of all ages are encouraged. Volunteers under age 14 will be provided special supervision by Habitat for Humanity. Groups and families are encouraged to volunteer together.

For more information about volunteering or receiving services, contact Community Development Director Brent Johnson at 507-433-1349 or community@habitatfreebornmower.org.