programs
Disadvantaged Household Home Repair
We provide free home repair for disadvantaged households in Sheboygan county. To qualify you must be the owner of the home and be disadvantaged in some way; disabled, elderly, veteran, etc. You must be current on taxes and your mortgage if any. This program is income based. To apply for this program please fill out an application here Rebuilding Together Application Screening Form
Safe at Home
At Rebuilding Together, we believe that older adults should be able to remain safe, healthy and independent in their own homes and communities. According to AARP, nearly 90% of older adults would prefer to stay in their current homes as long as possible. Aging in place is also widely understood to be more cost-effective than nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Yet most of the existing housing stock in the United States is not designed to accommodate the physical and cognitive changes that come with age. Paying for home modifications is often a financial burden for older adults living on fixed, limited incomes – particularly the lowest-income seniors – who tend to have higher rates of disability and live in older houses. Our Safe at Home program incorporates several key elements, including:
* Falls reduction interventions that minimize the risk of falls in the home
* Home modifications that address the safety and quality of life for the residents
* Fire prevention strategies that reduce the risk of home fires
This program is income based. To apply for this program please fill out an application here Rebuilding Together Application Screening Form
Important Legal Documents for the Elderly
Know your life planning documents. (*)
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT (WHO GETS YOUR PROPERTY AFTER DEATH)
A Will is a legal document in which you declare who will manage your estate and who will inherit your estate after you die. Your estate is all your property, including your personal belongings, your home, your car, your valuables, etc. In your Will, you will also name a Personal Representative who will manage your affairs after you pass away (including closing out bank accounts and going through probate).
TRANSFER ON DEATH DEED (TODD) (PASS YOUR HOME TO LOVED ONE WITHOUT PROBATE)
A transfer on death deed names the person or people who will get your home after your death. During your lifetime, you keep ownership of your home, and you may change the transfer on death deed at any time. Upon your death, your home goes to any surviving person named in the transfer on death deed. You can avoid costly probate by making a Transfer on Death Deed. Unlike Wills, as long as it is properly recorded, there is no risk the deed is lost or destroyed.
FINANCIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY (FPOA) (PROTECT AGAINST GUARDIANSHIP)
A Financial Power of Attorney gives someone you trust the power to make financial decisions and manage your affairs for you, either right away, or later, at a time you choose. A Financial Power of Attorney must be in writing and must be notarized. Without a financial power of attorney, you risk being placed under guardianship if you lose the ability to make decisions.
HEALTHCARE POWER OF ATTORNEY (HPOA) (MAKE YOUR HEALTHCARE DECISIONS KNOWN)
A Healthcare Power of Attorney gives someone you trust the power to make healthcare decisions for you when you can't make decisions for yourself. A Healthcare Power of Attorney must be in writing and signed in front of witnesses. Without a Healthcare Power of Attorney, hospitals will go according to the law, which may mean estranged family members decide on your health.
* Text provided by Legal Counsel for the Elderly, an affiliate of AARP.
Legal Aid Clinic
Offers services every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 1:00 to 4:00pm
Salvation Army
710 Pennsylvania Avenue
Sheboygan, WI 53081
Legal Action of Wisconsin
Free legal help for low-income individuals who qualify
Call 1-800-236-1128