Edgewater resident Matt F. utilizing the new improvements to his home
From Home Builders Foundation:
In August, Matt F., who has been a paraplegic since age 11, hosted a party at his first home. The 32-year-old welcomed the volunteers and supporters who have renovated his home, making it possible for him to live safely and independently with his new bride, Jess. After Matt sustained a spinal cord injury during a sledding accident, his parents renovated the family home to make it accessible. However, since Matt left for college at the age of 18, he’s had to sacrifice comfort and privacy while living in a series of apartments. “I’ve had to remove doors to accommodate my wheelchair, stack all my belongings in only the lower part of the closet and shower in bathtubs,” recounts Matt.
All that changed when Matt connected with the nonprofit Home Builders Foundation (HBF) shortly after purchasing his first home in 2019. HBF enables individuals with disabilities and their families to live more independent, elevated lives by working with skilled volunteers and partners to create home modifications that empower greater access, reinforce safety and equip clients with the ability to tackle everyday tasks.
At the party, Matt and Jess led tours of their renovated home and proudly pointed out the modifications, which include;
- Front and back ramps and a back deck provided by Haberer Carpentry that allow Matt to independently enter and leave his home.
- A large master bathroom with a roll-in shower and accessible sink and an accessible hallway bathroom, made possible by RSS insurance.
- A new back doorway leading to the deck that RSS Insurance renovated from an existing window.
- A stair lift, which was installed by Ascent Mobility, and provides Matt with easy access to his basement office.
- A smooth concrete sidewalk leading to the home that was constructed by PorMor Construction.
Matt thanked the group, stating, “Jess and I are just amazed by what everyone has done for us. Each project was done professionally and designed to fit seamlessly with our home’s décor. I can now easily get to my home office, the backyard and interact with guests.”
September is National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month. Approximately 300,000 people in the US are living with a spinal cord injury and nearly 18,000 new spinal cord injuries occur each year. The impacts to an individual’s mobility vary according to the severity and location of the injury on the spinal cord. Darin Kraft, an insurance advisor at RSS Insurance Services, was the project captain on Matt’s renovation and has assisted on several HBF projects for clients with spinal cord injuries. “I’m always inspired by what our clients with spinal cord injuries can accomplish with a little bit of help from us. Now that Matt can easily get to the front driveway, he’s in the process of renovating a van into an accessible camper. It’s so rewarding to assist someone in reclaiming independence,” says Kraft.
About Home Builders Foundation
For over 25 years, Home Builders Foundation has enabled individuals with disabilities and their families to live more independent, elevated lives. Skilled volunteers and collaborative partners come together to create home modifications that empower greater access, reinforce safety and equip clients with the ability to tackle everyday tasks. HBF has completed home modifications including ramps, room alterations, bathrooms, and much more for more than 1,800 individuals and organizations. The request for modifications has more than tripled since 2007. Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, more than 200 home modification projects were completed in 2020 and even more requests are anticipated for 2021. To learn more about HBF, visit
Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.
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