In November 2003, Somerset Homes, on behalf of the Home Builders Care Foundation, undertook and completed an exemplary community service project in Waldorf, Maryland. The project to rehabilitate a group home for disabled adults benefited clients of the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Southern Maryland's residential program. The group residence is home to four UCP clients with medically fragile conditions and special needs.
The original scope of work included installing new carpeting, extensive kitchen work and the replacement of kitchen cabinetry, exterior painting and increasing the home's handicap accessibility. However, in reviewing this project it became clear to HBCF's builder captain that more could be done with a little extra help from our sub-contractors and suppliers. And they came through in a massive way. Additional items of work included new bathroom cabinetry, new appliances and fixtures, upgrades to HVAC and numerous decorative touches.
Tom Allhoff, Vice President of Somerset Homes, a homebuilder based in Bel Alton, MD, served as the builder captain for the project.
Mr. Allhoff received assistance from Harry Chalestrom of St. Charles Community LLC, a Charles County developer and over a dozen other local suppliers and contractors who contributed in-kind assistance to the project. Mr. Billy Fabey from Somerset Homes was assigned the overall management of this project. With incredible organization and efficiency, Billy took fifteen (15) days worth of work and completed it in 3 days. Because of the special needs of the homes residents, time was critical on this job, Billy coordinated the efforts of 30 or so subs, suppliers, laborers and volunteers to make this all happen. The total value of in-kind labor and materials contributed to the project was approximately $25,000. The list of sub contractors included:
- Trim Specialty
- KSH Drywall
- Cutting Edge Landscaping
- Clements HVAC
- J.P. Electric
- REICO
- Precision Cabinetry Installation
- Evans Plumbing
- Hughes Supply
- Abby Floor
- McCormick Paints
- Gragan Glass
- 84 Lumber
- Interior Concepts
Second Round of In-Kind Assistance Provided to UCP SoMD in 2006
In 2006, HBCF once again lent its resources to assist UCP with two additional projects to improve the quality of life for its resident clients.
At one group home, an emergency home generator system was installed in order to supply electrical power to its medically fragile residents at all times. In order to fulfill UCP's needs, HBCF contracted with MNCBIA member Pelican Services to install the new system. Thanks to their diligence, the home is now equipped to provide automatic back-up power for resident's needed medical equipment as well as provide a communal place of refuge for other nearby UCP resident clients.
The second project for UCP in 2006 involved making much-needed adaptations to a newly purchased home in order to make it handicapped-accessible. With a waiting list for clients needing permanent housing, UCP purchased a house nearby its other group homes in the summer of 2006. The one-story ranch-style house is now home to four disabled female adults, three of whom are in wheelchairs. Thanks to careful attention by MNCBIA member Meridian Ventures Inc. (MVI), a project and construction management firm in Waldorf, the home received priority work to install two new concrete handicap ramp entrances and widen all bedroom and bathroom doorways. Thanks to the timeliness of their work, the home recently passed state inspection and the disabled residents were able to move in. Fireside Hearth and Home also contributed to the project by donating a new gas fireplace for residents to enjoy in their new home.
The mission of UCP of Southern Maryland is to positively affect the quality of life for persons with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities, and to provide multiple service needs to the families and caregivers of both. UCP's residential services program offers a home-like residence with supports, such as nursing, recreational activities and transportation as needed.
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Program affiliated with the Maryland
National-Capital Building Industry Association.
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of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity
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