Home Builder's Foundation

Hayley

You think about your childhood and the things you took for granted. I jumped on a trampoline everyday as a kid. Seeing the excitement of these little girls just being able to get in and out of the house puts it all in perspective. Getting to watch these kids live their lives the way that a normal kid would be able to – giving them that freedom that they didn’t have before – it’s really special.

Related stories

We did a project for a young kid who suffered a spinal injury in a car accident. He was a star soccer player before the accident, and he had a very hard time adjusting to his new reality. He was in such dark place as we worked to convert their garage into an accessible room for him, but since then, I’ve had the chance to talk to him again, and now he’s embraced his new lifestyle as a beacon of hope and encouragement to others going through what he’s been through.

Home Builder's Foundation

One thing I’ve learned about myself since being involved with HBF is that I’m happiest when I’m helping other people. Watching our clients light up when they see that ramp for the first time, you can just tell how much they’re looking forward to that new independence that they didn’t have when we got there that morning.

Home Builder's Foundation

The people we serve face tremendous challenges every day, and our job is to give them an advantage in facing those challenges. Helping them get back to the life they once knew – or that they’re yearning to have – is what gets me out of bed in the morning.

Home Builder's Foundation

The first project I led from start to finish was for a 3-year-old girl named Kennedy. She had a severe disease that weakened her immune system, and this was during the height of COVID, so leaving her house at all was a huge risk. She needed a safe place to play and do her physical therapy, so we remodeled her family’s basement. It was just amazing to see the smile on her face while she played with her brothers in the safety of her own home.

Home Builder's Foundation

Think of teenagers who need a family member to help them use the bathroom or take a shower. It’s pretty remarkable to be able to give them the dignity of independence.

Home Builder's Foundation

The look is similar to a regular construction site, but there’s this energy behind it. Everyone’s there to help, and the atmosphere is different, especially when the homeowner is there and you have a chance to hear their story. It motivates the whole crew.

Home Builder's Foundation

I had the dad that gave me a hammer and nails when I was 4 years old. When you have skills that someone else can benefit from, even if it’s just swinging a hammer or using a drill, it just makes sense to be able to put those skills to good use.

Home Builder's Foundation

We meet with the families to understand their daily struggles so we can align their needs with our expertise. Sometimes they don’t even know what they need, they just know they need help.

Home Builder's Foundation

We’ve met such an amazing community of people through our experience with Hattie’s disability. I feel like if we hadn’t gone through it – I don’t know – I feel like we would have been missing out.

Home Builder's Foundation

Home Builder's Foundation

Hattie has additional needs, and I never mind if people ask about her disability, but I love when parents ask us normal questions. Where does Hattie go to school? What does she like to do? I want parents to know that I’m just a regular mom.

Home Builder's Foundation

Before the ramp was built, it was a hassle to get in and out of our home. A lot of times, I would be afraid of dropping Hattie while we were struggling to get her wheelchair up and down the stairs. Our house is somewhere our family should feel comfortable, where Hattie should feel comfortable. Now that we have the ramp, she can go outside and play with her little sister, and she’s so happy.

Home Builder's Foundation

When Hattie saw the ramp for the first time, she got so excited. She does this thing where she squeals and kicks her legs and waves her arms. I’ll never forget it. Now she can finally just be a normal 4-year-old.

Home Builder's Foundation

This summer, we were serving a family whose college freshman suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident. We needed to convert their living and dining room into a bedroom and accessible bathroom. It was a huge job, but once people were aware of the situation, they stepped up and made it happen. Despite the labor and materials shortages, it ended up being probably the quickest remodel that happened in all of Denver last year.

Home Builder's Foundation

My first build was a ramp for a family who needed access to their front door. I got to experience firsthand what something like that does to change a person’s life, and it was contagious. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Home Builder's Foundation