A Home destroyed by a nearby fertilizer plant explosion – the sort of unexpected disaster that can cause a family to experience temporary homelessness. Photo courtesy State Farm via Flickr.
Homelessness is a growing problem in America. Not only is there a significant number of individuals and families who may live without a place to call home for a lengthy period of time, almost anyone can find themselves without a roof over their head due to temporary situations such as extreme weather disasters, job loss, or other significant personal or financial loss.
To help address this problem, appliance brand Maytag, part of the Whirlpool corporation, has partnered with HomeAid, a non-profit helps families get back on their feet after they find themselves homeless. According to an announcement made this week, Maytag will start by outfitting apartments in multi-family shelters with Maytag laundry and kitchen appliances. More appliances and funding will be contributed to the effort in the future.
“Now more than ever there are people in America that need help, and Whirlpool Corporation has always been a leader in assisting with safe and secure shelter,” said Bob Bergeth, general manager of Whirlpool Corporation builder sales. “Just as Maytag brand is known for dependability, HomeAid has served as a dependable lifeline for thousands of Americans who needed a place to stay as they rebuilt their lives. For this reason, we’re very pleased to partner with HomeAid.”
The announcement of support from a major appliance manufacturer comes as HomeAid is celebrating their 25th anniversary. HomeAid’s mission involves building and refitting buildings to create safe multi-family shelters, largely with the assistance of the building industry.
Getting homeless families under a roof is the first priority to HomeAid. Follow-up support services are offered as a “continuum of care” that helps ensure the families’ setbacks are temporary, and their future economic stability can be assured. Since its founding in 1989, HomeAid has provided a safe place to sleep for as many as 7,500 people each night, and provided temporary housing for over 170,000 people.
“We are thrilled to add Maytag as a national partner for HomeAid America,” said Peter Simons, chief executive officer of HomeAid America. “Maytag has been a household name for generations, known for their dependability and reliability; those are two wonderful qualities in a partner. HomeAid is very lucky to have them on our side as we continue our effort to provide housing and other assistance for today’s homeless.”
To find out more about how you can help HomeAid help families, visit HomeAid.org.
Whirlpool has a continually shown support for American families in need of a hand. In October, we profiled the company’s support for returning home veterans by donating to Homes For Our Troops.
