The economic state of our nation has brought hardships for many individuals in recent years. For some individuals living in La Crosse County, the answer to remaining in their homes and maintaining them in safe, working condition has been the Coulee Region RSVP Handyman Program. Currently, 63% of homes in La Crosse are under $100,000 in improvement value, and approximately 67% of homes were built prior to 1970. Coulee Region RSVP’s service area has a population of 161,561 residents, 13.8% are seniors, 14.5% are living below the poverty line, and 8.7% are veterans. 34% of seniors responding to the 2012 Community Compass Assessment indicated their ability to meet basic needs (food, housing, and clothing) was well below average. In response to this gap in services, Coulee Region RSVP staff along with two volunteers created the Handyman Program, designed to help individuals with disabilities, those who are low-income, veterans and seniors who are in need of minor home repair assistance. RSVP Handymen share their time, skill, and expertise, assisting individuals in a variety of ways, installing railings and deadbolts, repairing leaky faucets, as well as providing fix-it solutions for many other home repair needs. One of the first handyman jobs was to replace a faucet for a very low-income woman, while this may seem mundane or routine, the fact is that Sue, unable to pay for a professional, was living without running water in her home. RSVP Handymen were able provide the service and during their visit shared with Sue the services and programs offered at RSVP. After their visit, Sue was so moved by the assistance she received that she reached out to RSVP in order to become a volunteer. She is now an active member of the RSVP Foster Grandparent Program, earning a small stipend for her volunteer work in the schools. This story is one of many that demonstrates the economic impact RSVP and the Handyman Program has had in our community. Through this program, RSVP provides critical home repair services allowing residents to stay in their home as well as additional tools to assist individuals with improving their own economic situations. Our handyman team describes the program by saying “We have been able to provide additional security options for crime victims, safety measures for elderly individuals, and cost saving measures for those who are very low-income, allowing them to stay in their homes and giving them peace of mind.” Since the inception of this program in 2011, RSVP Handymen have helped over 70 individuals keep their homes in safe, working condition, and fulfilled requests from long-term care facilities, making it possible for loved ones to return home. It is estimated that approximately $54,000 has been saved in hourly fees and materials, for individuals requesting services. The RSVP Handyman Program is slowly dissolving the economic barrier preventing necessary home repairs from being easily accessible and affordable, one job request at a time, proudly demonstrating that two volunteers and one idea are all it takes to make a difference.