The mission of Habitaciones Para Latinos Association (or HPLA, as it is commonly known) is to provide home repair services to low income homeowners at no cost. The more elaborate explanation involves volunteers helping owners avoid costly code violations on their homes that they normally could not afford. Things such as broken windows, wood rot, hanging gutters, and more are fixed or replaced at no cost to the owner. Founded by Donna and Robert Flores, they add, “Our goal is to try to make sure every family in our area has their very basic physiological needs met, and they are functional. Per Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, those basics are food, shelter, water, warmth, rest, safety, and good health.” According to the Flores’, HPLA has fixed hundreds of homes with multiple issues. Volunteers are needed to manage complex projects from start to finish. With no paid staff, this is truly a work of the heart. For more information: go to hplacharities.org.

Featured in the September 30, 2023 issue of The Independent.