remodel herself many years ago) • New light and fan in her bed- room, with a working light switch. • New stove and counter top be- cause her kitchen is unsafe and she loves to cook • Updated electrical in her back- room • New outdoor storm and secu- rity doors in back of home and improved installation. • Fix the hook-up for her dryer “I am pleased to think about liv- ing in a more comfortable home, I won’t be afraid of cooking in an unsafe kitchen,” Mary said. “I am so grateful that at my age, some- one thought enough about me and my neighborhood to come help us. “I love my community. I have been here for 40 years and people know me. I am proud of where I live and I can stay here until I leave this earth,” she said. The help Mary is receiving during Block Build MKE seems like kar- ma for a life well lived in Amani. She has always kept her block clean, leading her own clean-ups of the empty lots on the block. “If you don’t get involved in the community, you’ll never know what it could bring. Our block is beautiful, all we have to do is keep it clean,” she said. “When I first came here, I didn’t sit down, I figured out what we needed to survive. I came from a hard place, I could write a book about my life, but it doesn’t mat- ter where you live – have respect for yourself,” Mary said. “And now I will help anyone on this block so we can all have pride in where we live. You give it your all, you give love, care and every- thing. You do everything you can do.”
“When I first came here, I didn’t sit down, I figured out what we needed to survive. I came from a hard place, I could write a book about my life, but it doesn’t mat- ter where you live. Have respect for yourself. And now I will help anyone on this block so we can all have pride in where we live. You give it your all, you give love, care and everything. You do everything you can do.” – Mary Johnson, Amani Home Owner
she physically couldn’t do the work anymore. She has had heart failure since 2006 and survived breast cancer in 2019. When Mary got her second job, she saved every penny and bought her current home herself for her family to put down stable roots. The duplex was perfect, her mother lived upstairs. She took care of the home herself, doing all repairs and renovations in both units for more than 40 years. “I knew that one day, I would be up in age, and I wanted some- place comfortable,” she said. “I never asked for help when I was working, but you need to know enough to know when you age and when you need help. Never give up, just ask for help. You cannot still do everything your- self, receive your help.” Mary first heard about Block Build MKE from a flier left at her home by DC Housing Coordina- tor Amanda Clark. Though she was nervous and afraid to apply for the program and reach out for help, something told her to take a chance. “I had such a great experience. Sometimes you have to trust people that want to help you. There are good people at Do- minican Center. If you’re a senior on a fixed income, please think
about giving it a try. I was afraid at the beginning, but once I saw how kind everyone is, I am now glad and grateful,” she said. She said that Amanda insisted on helping with her application. “She was willing to come to my house and walk me through it. I admire her, she’s very sweet. I came in late to this application process, and I am so grateful I was accept- ed,” she said. But complications in the process had just begun. During the application process, Mary broke her ankle when she stepped in a hole mowing her lawn by herself, so her appli- cation stalled. She felt like she didn’t have the energy to finish, but Amanda pushed her to finish the application. As soon as the two got the application finished, Helena’s water heater went out. Because she knew this vital repair needed to be addressed right away, Amanda called Revitalize Milwaukee to see if the repair could be expedited. The next day the organization came out to look at it, and two days later, Revitalize MKE had replaced the water heat- er. “I thank them truly from the heart. They were on it and fixed it right away,” she said. Through Block Build MKE, Mary received the following repairs: • New water heater installation • New toilet and sink in the bathroom (she did the previous
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