Earlier this month, TruBlue of Western Reserve joined forces with Habitat to help Bruce Fair, a 62-year-old veteran in Willoughby, regain independence in his own home. Due to mobility challenges and a lack of insurance coverage, Bruce was unable to shower safely and had been relying on the YMCA for months. But thanks to this partnership, Bruce’s bathroom is now being renovated at no cost to him, restoring not only his safety but also his dignity.
The project, which kicked off May 13, involves replacing a traditional bathtub with a walk-in shower, installing new fixtures, sliding doors, and making other key modifications to improve accessibility. TruBlue’s owner Quinn Malone and lead technician Rich DeCaria are managing the renovation, bringing years of experience in senior-focused home modifications to the table.
“This project is a perfect example of how powerful community partnerships can be,” said Malone. “Lake-Geauga Habitat for Humanity is giving us the opportunity to live out our mission—to help people live safely and comfortably in their homes, especially those who might not have the means to do it on their own.”
By combining TruBlue’s specialized aging-in-place services with Habitat’s mission of housing support, the two organizations are closing critical gaps for underserved populations—particularly veterans and seniors.
Without the Habitat partnership, many of these projects wouldn’t be possible. The cost of bathroom conversions and accessibility upgrades can be prohibitive for individuals on fixed incomes, often ranging from $6,000 to $7,500 or more. For Bruce, who once had a comfortable savings but saw it dwindle due to ongoing health and living expenses, this support was life-changing.
“I couldn’t do what other companies quoted me—$25,000 was impossible,” Bruce said. “But Habitat connected me to TruBlue, and it’s been the biggest blessing I’ve had in a long time.”
This isn’t a one-off effort. Malone hopes this is the beginning of an ongoing collaboration to reach more people who fall through the cracks—those who need help but don't know where to turn. As TruBlue expands, partnerships like this will be critical in creating scalable, local solutions for national challenges, like the growing need for safe, age-friendly housing.
“There are over 10,000 people turning 65 every day in the U.S.,” Malone said. “The need is enormous, and we can’t do it alone. Working with Habitat allows us to help more people—and help them faster.”
Together, TruBlue of Western Reserve and Lake-Geauga Habitat for Humanity are making homes safer, restoring independence, and proving that when local organizations collaborate, entire communities benefit.
