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Kismet has been homebound since a work injury left her recovering. She is a welder, but she was hit by a forklift while working. After months spent still recovering, warmer seasons turned into colder ones, and Kismet’s furnace wasn’t working while she was spending more time at home.
It was Kismet’s sibling who informed her that YNDC may be able to assist her with her broken furnace. Kismet has been living in her home for eight years, but her furnace has not worked properly for nearly two winters. To stay warm on cold nights, Kismet used four space heaters throughout her house. She was unaware of how dangerous it was to heat her home with multiple space heaters. Since she hasn’t been able to work, Kismet contacted YNDC and qualified for the Owner-Occupied Home Repair program. One of YNDC’s housing project inspectors came to look at her furnace and informed her that her furnace was over 30 years old. They no longer manufactured that specific furnace or the necessary part to repair it and it would need to be replaced.
She says overall, the replacement was quick and efficient. “[It took] eight hours. I was allowed to be here, sit, and cheer. They just went into the basement and did their work. I didn't have to go down there and do anything. It was easy.”
In January, the City of Youngstown broke records for the longest stretch of cold temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of the coldest days were hovering at -10, breaking another record low for the area. However, YNDC was able to assist Kismet in getting her furnace before the storm and its intense cold, which she is grateful she avoided. “That was a big help, because I would’ve been in the house with the space heaters all day. [Doctors] don't want me driving, because I’m having a hard time turning [my head]. I would’ve been stuck in the house all day, and I would have froze. I appreciate you guys.”
-Kismet Johnson, Owner-Occupied Home Repair Client