Still, the day’s work is just a fraction of what LINC has done so far to fix up hurricane-damaged homes and has yet to do.

Though it’s been five months since Ike blew through the city, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, LINC, like many other nonprofit organizations, is still receiving calls every day from homeowners seeking help to repair their homes.

“I think most of us in Houston, since our electricity is back and we didn’t have any problems, tended to forget that people are still living in homes that are completely ruined,” Junkans said.

 

The organization, created seven years ago to expand the Lutheran church and help the needy, has worked on 260 homes, but Junkans said there are almost 200 homes on its books that still need work.

“We just know there are hundreds of people out there, and we are finding them every week,” Junkans said, adding there are an estimated 18,000 homes in need of repair.

 

Skilled workers, individuals and volunteers from corporations and churches have donated their time in the past five months to work with LINC on everything from roof repair and installing windows to mold remediation and plumbing and electrical repairs.

“We do whatever we can with the budget we have,” Junkans said.

 

Junkans said they are there to help low-income homeowners who lack the funds or insurance to fix their homes or who haven’t been able to get assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

 

Junkans said case managers verify income and check to see whether homeowners have received insurance and or assistance from FEMA.

“That’s when we qualify them for the home repair program,” Junkans said.

 

The organization needs volunteers, especially those skilled in areas of construction. Visit volunteerhouston.org. or linchouston.org.