Love Your Block officials tell Jackson City Council small exterior repairs keep seniors in place, report 189 repairs

City of Jackson staff and volunteers updated the Jackson City Council in May on Love Your Block, a city initiative that provides small exterior home repairs and neighborhood improvement grants aimed at keeping long‑time residents in their homes.

Love Your Block reported completing 189 individual repairs across 28 homes from 2023 to 2024 and estimated those repairs saved residents more than $50,000 in labor costs. Program staff said the average age of residents served was 72 and the majority of households served reported annual incomes at or below approximately $20,000. "Love Your Block is an investment in our residents, our neighborhoods, and our city's future," the program presenter said.

The program provides work such as porch repairs, door and window replacements, painting and water‑damage remediation. The presenter said common requests are painting, window and door replacement, gutter repairs and porch repairs and that modest improvements can add roughly $5,000 to $10,000 to a home's value. Program staff reported an estimated average 27% increase in property value for homes the program worked on between 2022 and 2025.

Beyond repairs, Love Your Block operates a Mobile Tool Shed—a free tool‑lending service the presenter said allows residents to reserve up to five tools at a time for home maintenance and repairs. The program also partners with Keep Jackson Beautiful for litter cleanups and provides neighborhood improvement grants ranging from $250 to $5,000 to support resident‑led projects, public art and community programming.

A resident who spoke during the presentation described having a rotted window and said, "I am so happy that they were able to replace it for me." Another volunteer described youth ministry crews helping with yard beautification and small wood repair, saying working alongside homeowners created lasting connections.

Council members asked how organizations rent the van and reserve tools; the presenter said organizations, churches and businesses can reserve the entire Mobile Tool Shed and that residents can call (731) 422‑7033 or use the city’s Love Your Block web page to request tools or apply for assistance.

Program statistics presented to the council included engagement by some 230 volunteers from 17 organizations (churches, nonprofits and businesses), collection of over 5,000 pounds of litter through cleanups and receipt of 97 home‑repair applications in the recent cycle. Staff said applications came from every district after the program opened citywide for the first time and that 68% of applicants fell at or below the city’s poverty threshold as presented.

The presenter thanked corporate partners and volunteers; when asked about private partners, she confirmed an ongoing relationship with Lowe’s. The council did not take formal action on the report; the item was presented for information.