Strengthening Our Community, One Home at a Time

January/February Beans for Bags Spotlight:
Real Estate Professionals for Affordable Housing (REPAH)

In every strong community, there are quiet champions working behind the scenes to make sure neighbors are safe, supported, and able to remain in the homes they love. Here in Jefferson County, one of those champions is Real Estate Professionals for Affordable Housing (REPAH), a nonprofit organization that has been strengthening our community for more than three decades.

Founded in 1992 by the Jefferson County Association of REALTORS®, REPAH was created with a simple but powerful mission: to help low-income homeowners stay safely housed. Through emergency repairs, safety improvements, and accessibility upgrades, REPAH works to promote and sustain affordable home ownership while strengthening our community, one home at a time.

What makes REPAH especially remarkable is how directly community support turns into real impact. Every officer and board member is a volunteer, which means nearly 100% of donations go straight to helping homeowners. Larger projects may be supported by grants, but many smaller, urgent repairs are funded almost entirely by the local real estate community and community donations.

This month, our Beans for Bags program is proud to support REPAH. When you bring your own bags and choose to donate your bag credit, you’re helping fund critical home repairs for neighbors who may be facing unsafe living conditions. These small acts of generosity add up; helping repair roofs, restore heat, improve accessibility, and make homes safer and healthier for the people who live in them.

These aren’t cosmetic upgrades they’re essential fixes that can mean the difference between stability and displacement. Without timely funding, REPAH’s response can stall, leaving vulnerable neighbors waiting in unsafe conditions with few other options.

At its heart, REPAH’s work is about dignity and belonging. Affordable homeownership doesn’t just provide shelter it creates roots, stability, and a sense of place. By helping people remain in their homes, REPAH preserves neighborhood connections, supports aging in place, and keeps families from being forced out by circumstances beyond their control.

If you or someone you know is in need of help, REPAH offers a Home Rehabilitation Grant for eligible homeowners. Applications are available on their website, and the program is designed to support those facing urgent health and safety repairs.

We invite our community to join us in supporting this important work — whether by donating your bag credit through Beans for Bags, spreading the word, or reaching out for help if you need it. To learn more about REPAH, apply for assistance, or make a direct contribution, visit www.repah.org.

Together, we can continue strengthening our community — one home, one neighbor, one act of care at a time.