Matoya & Essential Services

Matoya primarily communicates using sign language and relies on text-based communication through her phone when interacting with visitors or service providers in her home.

To support her safety, she uses visual alarm systems. While her hearing disability does not significantly affect her day-to-day living, communication barriers have caused challenges during past home maintenance and repair situations, particularly with major systems such as the furnace. Due to a flooding incident, Ms. Matoya experienced significant disruptions in essential home systems. One of the most critical needs was the replacement of her hot water heater.

Access to reliable hot water is essential for basic daily activities such as bathing, cleaning, and maintaining personal hygiene. For someone living alone, restoring this service is especially important for health, comfort, and independence. The new hot water heater ensures that Matoya can safely and consistently meet her daily needs without additional stress or reliance on outside assistance. In addition to the water heater replacement, several other critical home repairs will be completed to stabilize and improve the safety of the home. These repairs included fixing a leaking kitchen pipe, replacing the kitchen sink faucet, repairing electrical switches in the kitchen, replacing the basement service sink, adjusting steps at both entrances, repairing the bathroom fan and light switch, and replacing the front storm door.

Together, these repairs, will greatly improve the livability of Matoya’s home and will restore essential services that support her well-being and independence.