Back in 2009, Andy Hoff didn’t imagine a nonprofit training program would shape his life’s work.
At the time, it was just an opportunity to learn a skill — something practical, something useful. He became an energy auditor, then climbed the ranks: quality control tech, statewide inspector, eventually running Indiana’s weatherization program.
Along the way, Andy discovered something bigger than just insulating homes or sealing ducts. He saw how a simple repair could change a life.
One of the earliest home visits in his career was for a woman who had lived in her house for over 50 years. She loved the place, the memories it held, and her neighbors. She had no plans to leave. But utility bills were swallowing her income. Moving was starting to feel like the only option.
Andy and his team made her home airtight — cutting her bills in half. She stayed. For Andy, that was a story he’ll never forget. In this case, weatherization wasn’t really about lowering energy bills. It was about keeping someone in the place they loved.
Fast forward to today, and Andy’s mission has come full circle. As the director of the Growth Program at Home Repairs for Good, he’s helping others step into the same opportunity he found all those years ago.
Home Repairs for Good has always been rooted in service, helping homeowners who need critical repairs stay safe and secure in their homes. For many, it’s a lifeline. But providing those repairs at no cost to the homeowner requires funding, and relying solely on donations and grants isn’t enough to meet the growing need. That’s where the all-new Growth Program comes in.
The program recruits graduates from the BY+ program, a construction training trade program run in partnership with Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation, CICF, Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, and Home Repairs for Good. The graduates of this program have already gained some hands-on skills with tools and repairs. Andy works closely with instructors to identify individuals who stand out — those with passion, drive, and a desire to learn. These recruits are invited to join the Growth Program, where they’ll begin to receive training in weatherization — with additional specialities coming in the future including lead remediation and asbestos abatement.
“It’s more than just a job,” Andy says. “We’re teaching them skills they can carry with them anywhere — whether they want to start their own business or move into a different trade. We’re also teaching financial wellness, budgeting, even entrepreneurship. It’s about setting them up for long-term success.”
The work these new grads do is real, impactful, hands-on experience in the homes of our aging neighbors. Through partnerships with organizations like Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, they’ll soon begin to perform weatherization services for these homeowners. The earned income from these projects will feed directly back into Home Repairs for Good, funding the free repairs that make such a difference for families.
For Andy, that’s what makes the program so powerful. “It’s full circle,” he says. “The work we’re doing isn’t just helping homeowners save money and stay safe. It’s creating sustainable funding so we can help even more people. And at the same time, we’re giving these trainees a path to something bigger.”
Right now, the program is just getting started after Andy was hired this fall to lead the initiative. There are four trainees preparing to begin training in early 2025. Their truck is being outfitted with tools, and they’re beginning the certifications required for weatherization work. But Andy has a bigger vision. He sees the program growing, expanding into other types of repairs and more opportunities for trainees and the organization.
For Andy, it all comes back to heart. “The people who succeed in this work are the ones who care about it — the ones who deeply care about the people they’re helping. That’s what we’re looking for, and that’s what makes this work so fulfilling. The work we do is about making someone’s life better. And that’s something you carry with you.”
The Growth Program is meant to be a bridge. A bridge between homeowners who need help staying in the place they love and workers who want to build something better for themselves.
For Andy, it’s a chance to pass along the same hope and purpose he found back in 2009 — and that’s the kind of work worth doing.
Home Repairs for Good is incredibly thankful to the grantors who have helped pave the way and launch the Growth Program. Indianapolis African American Quality of LIfe Initiative (IAAQLI) Round III, Glick Philanthropies, and Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.