September/October 2004

Extreme Makeover: HomeAid Edition
HomeAid America Goes Prime Time




By Arianna Barrios

HomeAid America is no stranger to calls for help. Every day HomeAid chapters across the country receive applications requesting assistance to build new shelters for the temporarily homeless. But the call HomeAid received in March was unique.

Two years ago, Johnny Garay’s mother was killed when a stray bullet from a drive-by shooting entered her house, where she was raising five children. Johnny and his wife, Veronica – who have four children of their own – took in Johnny’s five orphaned half-siblings to keep them together.

Suddenly the Garay family of Los Angeles grew from six to 11. Johnny and Veronica found themselves with nine children under the age of 13 to care for, including one autistic child. The Garays moved into a larger house, but could only afford a “fixer-upper.” Johnny works for a nonprofit agency and coaches at-risk teens. Veronica quit her job as a dental hygienist so she could be a full-time mom to the children.

In late 2003 – with their housing situation at less than ideal – the Garay family submitted a tape to the producers of ABC’s hit television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The purpose of the show is to help a family in need by remodeling its home. After a family is selected, they are whisked away for a week while a team of workers remodels the entire home, including its exterior and landscaping. The entire remodel is completed in seven days.

“I actually saw the Garays’ application last season and knew this was a family we should help,” said Tom Forman, executive director and creator of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Initially, the producers imagined a remodel of the Garays’ home. But after several contractors declared that any remodel might leave the house condemned and the family homeless – a situation the family had already been in once – the producers had to reconsider modifying the show’s original format.

On the team’s first visit to the Garays’, it quickly became obvious why a remodel would not work.

Located in one of South Central Los Angeles’ historic neighborhoods, the 1905 Craftsman house was badly damaged. The 2,100-square-foot house had four original bedrooms and two un-permitted add-on bedrooms/rooms that were barely connected to the house. The plumbing in one bathroom was not working at all, and the other bathroom was covered in mold and mildew because of a lack of ventilation. In other parts of the unheated house, mushrooms were growing because of severe water damage. Hand-cut ceiling beams showed termite damage, many windows and doors were missing – both inside and out, and lead paint was found throughout.

Not willing to give up, the producers searched for an organization that could partner with them on this project. That’s when the call came to HomeAid.

“When we saw the Garays’ house, we realized that renovation was not an option,” said Senior Producer Conrad Ricketts. “In order to give the Garays the newer, bigger house they deserved, we needed the help and experience of professional builders. So we called HomeAid America

.”

Picking the players
HomeAid turned to Shea Homes and Bassenian/Lagoni Architects for the answer to the question: How do you level an existing house and build a new house on the same lot to accommodate a family of 11 … on TV … in just one week?

“When HomeAid shared the Garays’ story with us, we couldn’t say ‘no’,” said Bert Selva, president and CEO of Shea Homes. “They need a house that’s not on the verge of being red-tagged.

“We wanted to give them more than a house with heat and without broken windows. We wanted this to be the first step in building a better community for both the Garays and their neighbors.”

Bassenian/Lagoni’s Dave Kosco, a firm principal and long-time HomeAid supporter, shared that sentiment.

“We wanted to give the Garays a refuge with a touch of luxury,” said Kosco. “We were faced with the challenge of designing a house that fit in with the surrounding architecture, but also had enough space for 11 people.”

Remodeling a house in such poor condition would be difficult for any team, but the show’s race-against-time format presented additional challenges.

“On the show, we tell viewers the build takes place in a week,” Forman said. “In reality, that’s not the case. By the time we shoot our introductions, before shots, and the family reveal and home tour, the builder only has five days and nine hours for construction.”

Blitz building is nothing new to HomeAid partners, but being filmed 24 hours a day while trying to meet an arduous deadline, tested the limits of the team’s endurance. Under the leadership of Shea Homes, the team constructed a plan utilizing Shea divisions and other tradespeople from around the country, including Dixie Line Lumber of Colorado. Building continued day and night.

Thousands of temporarily homeless men, women, and children in California and around the nation are helped each day because HomeAid facilitated a partnership that produced a new shelter, which for a short period they can call home until they can make it on their own. In many ways the Extreme Makeover experience was no different.

“Extreme Makeover came to us because we had the relationships to make this build happen,” said Michael Lennon, president of HomeAid America. “This is what we do every day. Only this time we didn’t connect a care provider with a builder partner of ours, we connected ABC.”

Behind the scenes
During the weeks that led up to the build and throughout the course of the show, HomeAid actively sought to make the experience a positive one for all involved.

“The producers were amazed at the professionalism, speed, and efficiency that HomeAid, Shea Homes, and the trade partners brought to this project,” Lennon said. “But this is what our industry does so well, especially when it’s a HomeAid project.”

As the days ticked by, the trade partners proved instrumental in keeping the project on schedule.

The team from Younger Brothers Construction of Phoenix worked more than 12 hours straight one day to make up six hours of construction time and complete the framing of the first and second floors.

“We were there to get a job done, and we were more than happy to do it,” said Jim Younger, president and CEO of the company. “It was a lot of work, but the Garay family deserved all that we could give them.”

Other participants agreed.

“Words cannot express the honor of being asked to contribute and do our part for this family,” added Ray Puzio, owner of RJP Construction & Painting, whose own team worked relentlessly to paint the entire house in more than 40 colors, per the designers’ instructions and family’s request.

For Shea Homes, the project became an exercise in team building. More than 125 Shea employees participated directly in the management of the project, working day and night to supervise construction.

“It added depth to the relationships we share within our company, and between us and our trades,” said Robb Pigg, vice president of operations and project leader for Shea Homes. He also noted that the experience taught the company some valuable lessons they will use in building its communities, notably how efficient homebuilding can be when the trades collaborate.

Endless rewards
As the building phase came to a close, Shea and its partners set a new record in home construction. In just 96 hours, they turned over the new home to the Extreme Makeover design team in ready-to-decorate condition, right down to window shades, landscaping, and appliances. As the fourth day ended, members of the building team were able to enjoy a front-row seat as the show’s cast raced to complete the home for the family’s arrival.

HomeAid stepped in again with volunteers at the ready to make the house a home. Utilizing every skill and talent imaginable, HomeAid volunteers moved furniture, sewed drapes, ironed bedding, and organized closets and cabinets in another record-breaking effort. According to producers, it was the first time that a home was completely finished – with time to spare – for the family’s return and the show’s climactic reveal.

The Garay family was in tears at the sight of their new, 5,210-square-foot home. Using the entire lot – from front to back, the home’s patio was designed in a courtyard fashion. Surrounded on three sides by the home, the family now has a safe outdoor space.

As the family explored room after room (27 in all) on three floors, the Garays continually expressed their disbelief that people they had never met put so much work and detail into their new home.

The kitchen was designed to be the heart of the home, with an elongated island that allows all the family members to sit together. The design also includes multiple bathrooms, privacy areas for the parents, play spaces, a library, and a music room. The family’s deep connection with their Hispanic heritage also inspired a museum room, with a custom mural provided by local artists.

“All our prayers have been answered,” said Veronica. “This is truly a blessing.”

It certainly was a success for all involved. HomeAid is currently working with the show to find additional ways to partner in the future.

“The show will give HomeAid a national platform and unprecedented exposure,” said Jeff Slavin, chairman of HomeAid America. “But more gratifying still is the exposure it will give our industry and our partners.”

Arianna Barrios is the communications director for HomeAid America, based in Costa Mesa. She can be reached at abarrios@homeaid.org.