NORWICH – The Impact Project, based in Greene, is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving Chenango County and surrounding areas by providing home renovation assistance, financing, and construction. They have just completed their 200th project, saving one home at a time.

Norwich resident Tanya Chrisbacher found out about The Impact Project from a neighbor, who had her roof done and a couple of friends that also recently had work completed.

She applied for the new roof and was accepted, becoming The Impact projects 199th project.

She said she had seen the work at her neighbors and pictures of other projects and was impressed.

"My trailer is about a 97 or 98 model and I've owned it now for eight years," said Chrisbacher. "I got a brand new roof put on because the one that was there was probably the original, with a lot of leaks."

She said The Impact Project moved quickly and finished up on Tuesday.

"They are wonderful and we're really excited about our new roof," said Chrisbacher. "My son, daughter, and three dogs live here too, and we're all excited."

The 200th project was across the road form Chrisbacher, at the home of her uncle, Richard Carl Fink. He and his wife Carol heard about The Impact Project by placing a call to Opportunities for Chenango. He said he explained his need for a new deck and stairs and they referred him to The Impact Project.

"So, I applied and was accepted for the work to be done," Fink said.

Fink said he is retired, on disability, and recently injured his shoulder. His arm in a sling now and it was going to be impossible to repair the deck and stairs by himself.

"I have a lot of pain in my shoulder caused by nerve damage and so I can't do the work,” he said. “I like to fix things and don't like to ask for help or depend on anyone, but this time it's hard for me, and because the deck and stairs are rotted out, something had to be done. It couldn't wait."

"I was pretty concerned about getting hurt if we fell through or something," said Fink. The people that built the original deck didn't use pressure treated wood and the only thing holding it together now is a dark heavy duty carpet.

“I'm really excited to have a safe new deck and stairs now.” said Fink.

With the completion of both projects and marking a milestone with their 200th project, The Impact Project moves forward in anticipation to help another homeowner stay in their home.

"This week, helping the Fink family and Chrisbacher family, that comes first,” said The Impact Project Executive Director James Willard III. “It's always about helping the homeowner and there was never an equation of how many people we would help in this county.”

He said, “It's an amazing event to hit the 200th project; we've won a lot of battles, but we still haven't won the war. But I'll say it again, we've won a lot of battles."

Willard said, “We've kept potentially thousands of people in their homes, kept them in Chenango County, which is where they want to live. It's a great county, and I'm kind of speechless at the completion of our 200th project in almost a 20 year span. It's an amazing event."

He said they're just a small organization and this is a huge tribute to the people that have worked and volunteered for their organization.

Willard said he is no stranger to the housing crisis in Chenango County and speaks on it all of the time but keeps pushing forward, one home at a time.

“There are a lot of amazing people out there, and we have been blessed to have them help us with this cause, to save peoples homes in this county,” said Willard. “A lot of tears have been shed and people don't know what to say because they were about to leave their homes.

“We put a cork in it, he added. “We stopped that from taking place. I'm not sure what the ripple effect is of all of that, but it's certainly positive.”

“This is a tribute to all of the volunteers, all the people, staff, board, everyone, and all of the organizations and agencies, and foundations that have supported us monetarily, all of them,” he said. “We couldn't be here without any of it. It's the whole thing.

“Next week, we go to project 201, right here in Norwich,” said Willard. “And again, keep saving homes, helping people with heat, helping people with water, building handicap ramps to help people get in and out of their homes, putting on new roofs, decks, steps, ya know; just basic needs.”

Willard said, “Many of us wake up and get our cup of coffee and go on about our day, but there's a lot of people out there that need our help and we want them to stay here. This is a great place to live.”

When asked what all of this personally means to Willard, he said, "I am speechless, I am beyond words."

“As a homeowner is speechless when we help them, I feel that same joy when people help our organization. We don't have a team of six, eight, ten contractors, we're depending on relationships and people to step up,” said Willard.

“So, when they're helping us, I feel that same way that a homeowner feels but the homeowner doesn't know that,” he said. “They just see a small or large group show up and help them out. But on our end, every time we have a project, we've got people coming that don't have to be here- they could be out making a good living but instead they are here, helping a single mom, helping retired people fighting their battles, and I'm really just thankful and speechless."

Willard explained that most of the agencies in Chenango County know who they are and they're great people who help refer people to The Impact Project all the time.

“We're all here in this together and all about the collaboration when people need help,” he added. “We have our niche, and others have theirs, so we try to help refer back and forth to take care of the needs of the homeowners.”

Willard said Preston Supervisor Zachary Meseck and the local newspaper, The Evening Sun, were both very helpful in getting information to the public over the last five years. “He not only reported on the projects but also volunteered,” said Willard.

“Meseck cares about those in our county and didn't have to do that , yet he did and we are thankful for him and The Evening Sun. Because of the coverage, we've gotten a lot more attention and support.”

“In the last three years, we did 74 construction projects and are now averaging a new homeowner project every two weeks,” Willard said. “Prior to 2020, we were maybe doing about 10 projects a year and we even continued through COVID. We were fortunate enough with resources that came to us and volunteers and we doubled our efforts and continue to stay on that pace to this day.

He said many people ask him where all of this is going, and his response is, “We're just saving one house at a time.”

Willard continued to give honor to those who have helped along the way.

"We've had 4,259 volunteers in our 19 and a half years and they've come from everywhere," said Willard. "We're nothing without them and nothing without our staff, board, and all of the people that have pitched in."

“I would say, God is leading the pack, there is no way on this earth, that I, Jim Willard, could ever do all of this,” he said. “I'm in front but it's the support from businesses, volunteers, and all of the people that have taken us to our 200th completed project.”

For additional information to volunteer or to apply for home repair, visit theimpactprojectgreene.org. or visit their Facebook page for project postings.