Since buying her Southwest Philly rowhome more than 30 years ago, Maria has battled water.
Her home never had a sump pump, which prevents flooding by pumping water away from the foundation.
The flooding worsened over time, and in the last three years, water would pour into Maria’s basement every time it rained. She began to manually drain the water out with a hose and swimming pool pump.
“I would have to leave work, get in my car, run home, put the hose in, then go back to work and pray the basement didn’t flood,” said Maria, 68.
It worked in a pinch, but she still had a hole in her basement. Mold began growing on the walls from the accumulated moisture.
As a working senior, Maria didn’t qualify for free home repair programs targeting people on very low incomes. But she also couldn’t afford the thousands of dollars needed to upgrade her plumbing, on top of other issues throughout the home.
“I felt like I was in a dark hole,” Maria recalled.
Then, someone recommended she call Clarifi, which has an affordable home repair program in partnership with the City of Philadelphia: Restore, Repair, Renew (RRR) offers 10-year, fixed-rate 3% interest loans ranging from $2,500 to $50,000 to eligible homeowners.
Maria called Clarifi and began the process of applying for RRR.
After a Clarifi counselor ran her credit report as part of the program’s eligibility screening, Maria discovered she had $5,000 in outstanding collections from her divorce. Her counselor told her, “We can help you.”
Maria was eligible for a housing stabilization grant through Clarifi, in partnership with the TD Ready Challenge. She combined that grant with her own savings to fully pay off her collection accounts. By paying off her debt, she also improved her credit score by more than 50 points.
“Clarifi protected me financially.” -Maria, Clarifi client and Philadelphia homeowner
Now back on track, Maria closed on her RRR loan in November 2025. A Clarifi home repair advocate came out to conduct a free home assessment, helping her determine urgent needs, like her plumbing issues. He also noted a shaky banister, a broken oven with gas leakage, a drafty window in the basement, and water and mold buildup under the cabinets.
“I was shocked at how much needed to be fixed,” Maria said. She felt more prepared after the home assessment and a Clarifi workshop she took on ensuring a successful home renovation project.
Within a week of closing on the loan, Maria’s general contractor came out and got to work. The first thing he addressed: the water.
“After 35 years, I was able to get a sump pump in my basement,” Maria said. “Because of Clarifi, I’ll never have to worry about water again.”
The first time it rained after she got her sump pump, Maria instinctively ran into the basement.
“I’ll never forget the feeling when I realized I didn’t have to start the pumps anymore,” she said.
On top of installing the sump pump, the contractor also completed waterproofing and mold remediation, giving her a new French drain and commercial dehumidifier.
Maria is making more repairs with her RRR loan, getting her house painted, floors fixed, kitchen updated, and electrical work done—repairs that will improve her home and build wealth for her, her children, and her grandchildren.
“I want to make sure I can leave my home safe, warm, and dry for my babies,” Maria said.