Property Restoration
In the majority of cases, a property that is in poor condition stems from a crisis inside the home. Illness, the sudden loss of a family member, employment loss or other financial setbacks, can make it very difficult or impossible for a homeowner to care for their property. There are, of course, other reasons for properties to decline. In our experience, the vast majority of problems stem simply from neighbors who are short on resources, chronically or suddenly, and are unable to qualify for assistance from non profit charities or one of our government’s numerous safety nets that are setup to help Wichitans in times of crisis. .
We strive to resolve our neighbors issues quickly and as cheaply as possible with limited volunteer hours and limited finances. Our goal is always to get our neighbor out of harm’s way and help to bring peace of mind and an immediate improvement in the quality of life for all. If you’d like to sign up to help on a one-time cleanup please let us know here
Adopt-A-Neighbor
In most cases a problem property can be cleaned up and the owners are able to find a way to prevent a lapse in its care. However, for some of our elder neighbors there is simply no one near enough to help them. This is an opportunity for neighbors to come together and express their commitment to building a high quality of life for everyone in their neighborhood and especially to a senior member of our block. If you are willing to help with a nearby neighbor’s property on a regular or semi-regular basis you can enroll as a volunteer here.
Yardens
A Yarden is a micro version of a traditional Community Garden that appears on private property next to a sidewalk or property boundary accessible to neighbors. They can be planned with neighbors or on one’s own and then offered to next door neighbors, the only intention is to provide a place for the strengthening of neighborly relations, a place to chat or a place to meet and exchange dishes made from the Yarden’s bounty. Neighbors grow what they want and ease of access make maintenance of the yarden pretty simple. These are low cost, low effort alternatives to community gardens. If you are interested in starting a Yarden but need a hand reach out to us via email here!
Neighbor Watch
This is a new program for those who have extra time to give to their neighbors making it perfect for a retiree. All year long neighbors find themselves summoned to environmental court to respond to a Notice of Violation on their property. I have seen an 80 year old undergoing chemotherapy standing before the judge. An 89 year old veteran for 2 years going it alone in his attempts to cleanup a horde outside of his home was what inspired this program. The ideal volunteer would have experience with social services work and be able to identify neighbors who are in dire need of outside help and approach them with an offer to lend a hand. The City of Wichita has done very well in helping citizens in these situations. Sometimes a neighbor is missed and the only one who can then reach them is another neighbor. If you are interested in hearing more about this program, please contact us here.