A Brush With Kindness is Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho’s home repair program that helps low-income homeowners maintain safe, decent, and healthy living conditions. Through volunteer labor, community partnerships, and donated materials when available, we work to make critical home repairs more affordable for qualifying homeowners. Please note that we do not provide repairs for rental properties, as maintenance of those units is the responsibility of the property owner.

Our A Brush With Kindness repair program focuses on improving the safety, accessibility, and long-term preservation of owner-occupied homes. Depending on program capacity and funding, we may provide interior or exterior repairs that address health, safety, accessibility, or home preservation concerns. Because our program relies on available funding, volunteer support, and contractor availability, the types and scope of repairs we can offer may vary. Applicants must also demonstrate the ability to repay the cost of the repair through our program terms, when applicable. Please note that we do not provide routine property maintenance services such as lawn care, landscaping, or general housekeeping.

To apply for our A Brush With Kindness home repair program, you will complete a short application to help us verify your household information, homeownership status, and household income. You can review the income guidelines in the chart below to see if your household may qualify for the program. After receiving your application, our staff will review the repair needs for your home, discuss project eligibility and scope, and go over any available repayment options that may apply through the program.

Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho participates in the Repair Corps program, which provides critical home repairs for qualifying veterans. Through this program, eligible veteran homeowners may receive funding that can cover up to 100% of approved repair costs. Funding is awarded annually and the total amount available varies each year. Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are fully committed. Please note that funding is not guaranteed each year and availability depends on current grant allocations.

You can use the following chart to find the maximum income limits for the program based on your family size. The repair program serves families up to 80% of Kootenai County’s Area Median Income. Applicants must have a stable, verifiable source of income to qualify for a mortgage loan, such as employment income, Social Security, or disability benefits. Annual Gross Income includes income from ALL sources before taxes and deductions.