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About A Brush with Kindness


Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Willamette Valley's A Brush with Kindness (ABWK) program aims to partner with qualified, low-income homeowners who struggle to maintain the exterior of their homes. ABWK projects include exterior painting, landscaping, clean-up, and minor repair services to low-income homeowners in need.

How we do it


  • Habitat selects partner families based on income, need and willingness to partner.
  • Groups of volunteers help homeowners with exterior maintenance. This typically includes painting, minor exterior repairs, landscaping, weatherization and exterior clean-up.
  • In addition to volunteers, Habitat uses donated materials and takes no profit for their services.
  • Payments made by the homeowners are placed in a revolving fund to help A Brush with Kindness serve others in need.

Why it Matters


ABWK ensures that families live in safe and well-maintained homes. The program is designed to revitalize the appearance of neighborhoods, encourage connections within the community, and help preserve affordable housing stock.

Donate or Volunteer for ABWK Projects


To donate time, materials, or funding for ABWK programs, contact Kelly Walther at resourcedevelopment@salemhabitat.org or by calling 503-364-6642.

Types of Projects


  • Window repair (screen, glass, glazing)
  • Exterior scrape, caulk, and paint
  • Minor siding and trim repair
  • Landscaping (pruning/trimming, weeding, reseeding)
  • Cleanup, brush removal, junk removal
  • Board replacement in porch/stair/ramp
  • Minor roof repair and soffit/fascia replacement
  • Door replacement
  • Porch/stair/ramp construction
  • Other necessary home repairs

How to Qualify


Qualified applicants must:
  • Own and reside in a home at least 5 years old in need of repairs (no rental properties)
  • Have, or purchase and maintain, homeowner's insurance coverage
  • Reside within the service area of Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Willamette Valley (Salem, Keizer, Polk County, Stayton, Lyons, Aumsville, Mill City, Mehama, Sublimity)
  • Agree to partner with Habitat in all aspects of the repair project
  • Fall between 20% and 60% of the combined median household income for Marion and Polk Counties

Application Process


Homeowners must go through an application process to determine if they meet all requirements, including:

Demonstrated need
The condition of the home should be such that minor exterior repairs and maintenance can be done by volunteers. Circumstances that prevent homeowners from doing the work themselves- such as disability, age, or illness- can be seen as demonstration of need.

Willingness to partner
Sweat equity is a central component of one's willingness to partner and is a requirement of homeowners in ABWK. The number of sweat equity hours is based on the scope of the project.

Ability to pay
The cost of ABWK repair projects is determined by the scope of work and the cost of materials, no more than $2,000.

Payment options available
Habitat for Humanity will make every attempt to fit the payment option to the partner homeowner's ability to pay. Because of the smaller financial obligation required by ABWK several options are available for structuring a no-interest loan. Habitat for Humanity takes no profit for their services- all funds received go into a revolving ABWK fund to serve others in need.

  1. If paid in full at the time the services are completed, a 50% reduction off the agreed upon price.
  2. Secured loan with monthly payments (three to seven years) when the obligation is more than $2,001. Loans may be amortized over an extended period to ensure the homeowner's ability to pay.
  3. Secured loan with prepayment incentives:
    • 30% reduction if paid off within the first year.
    • 20% reduction if paid off within the second year.
    • 10% reduction if paid off within the third year.
  4. Unsecured loan if obligation is $2,000 or less, with prepayment options as listed above.
  5. Note paid upon sale or transfer of the property.
  6. When an eligible homeowner is enrolled in a partner program, private or public, whose purpose is to provide affordable housing services, and that program covers the repair costs, repayment to Habitat by the homeowner can be waived.

Apply to Become a ABWK Partner Family


Click here to download the ABWK pre-application form
Please submit completed applications to the Habitat office; applications are reviewed as they arrive.
1220 12th St. SE
Salem, OR 97302