Making Great Strides, One Step at a Time

Making Great Strides, One Step at a Time

When Adeline Odney purchased her home in Mattapan ten years ago, it was in rough shape. It had been through foreclosure, and the only space in the home that was livable was the finished attic. Sharing the third floor with her three children and using the living room for storage, she set out to make the home into a space she can be proud of, one step at a time.

Adeline learned about the Reuse Center at Boston Building Resources shortly after closing on the house and quickly became a regular customer. She has made hundreds of purchases over the years: everything from small items like bath accessories and hardware to large purchases like a boiler. After picking up a bathtub, she rode around with it still in her car for several days before she could find enough helpers to unload it.

Adeline has changed many of the home’s light fixtures and replaced many of its doors. She is especially proud of the basement family room she finished recently, where she and her children can spend time together.

A three-season porch, created with windows and a door from the Reuse Center, is a peaceful place for her to relax after work. She used pavers to make the side and rear yards more usable.

Adeline is grateful that the Reuse Center made it possible for her to uplift her home. “I treasure this place,” she says. “It means a lot to me.”

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