Community grants Progress Inc. couple their greatest wish

Randy Ingraham and Judy at his Madison home.

A simple wish will soon come true for Randy and Karen Ingraham.

For the last year, Randy, who has cerebral palsy, and his wife Karen, who is fundamentally bed-ridden due to having Lupus, Fibromyalgia and serious back injuries from a car crash, have had to deal with a home that has no heat, no insulation and damaged flooring that make it difficult for Randy to get around in his wheelchair. They have longed for help, but it was out of reach due to their physical and financial limitations.

The Tennessee Housing and Development Agency, Greater Nashville Regional Council and community donors have helped forever change the Ingrahams' home. THDA granted the GNRC a $6,200 Elderly Emergency Home Repair grant to help re-wire the electricity, improve plumbing and lay linoleum at the Madison home. Anonymous donors offered an additional $3,100 to help support the work that will be done by the Area Control and Heating Air. THDA gives out only $230,000 toward those sorts of repairs in 13 counties every year.


The help is more than Randy said he could ever imagine. Over the last year, the lack of heat, problems running electrical appliances and the conditions of his home had worried him.

“It’s a major fire hazard. My home could burn down at any time,” Randy Ingraham said. “The main thing I need for my home is electricity upgraded, winterizing and flooring.”

Judy, the Ingrahams' Progress Inc. DSP, started caring for the couple in September, and immediately saw the need for getting help. She scrubbed the house from top to bottom, asked for flooring from local businesses and reached out to as many people as she could.


"I wanted to get this house in shape- more than what we can do by cleaning," she said. "We didn't have the money to do the electric and the flooring."


She eventually contacted the Aging and Disability Hotline, which led to GNRC acquiring the grant and jumpstarting the renovation process. Area Control and Heating Air will begin the work next week. 


Randy and Karen still need a new dryer, additional flooring material and upgraded doors to keep in the heat. However, the help from GNRC, THDA and the community have already made their dreams come true.
A testament to the power of giving back.

Before photos of the floors and doors at the Ingrahams' home. Check back here at Pressing Forward with Progress for photos of  the "extreme" home makeover.