Ross Schoenherr started his roofing company in 1995, with a passion to help others.
For the last several years, he’s been doing just that, sending out a roofing crew several times a year to provide free replacement roofs for those in need.
A large dumpster sits in the driveway of a house in Dearborn Heights. (Dave Herndon – MediaNews Group)
Romeo-based Schoenherr was in Dearborn Heights Aug. 23 to do a complete tear off, and then re-roof a house for a local veteran.
The veteran declined to be included in any news coverage.
The project was a collaboration between Detroit’s Habitat for Humanity, Schoenherr Roofing and Owens Corning.
Owens Corning provides the material, Schoenherr provides the manpower and Habitat for Humanity vets the project and the veteran to make sure they qualify.
Britney Johnson, from Habitat for Humanity said for this program, only veterans were eligible.
“The homeowner was referred to Habitat Detroit, and placed into our critical home repair program,” she said. “From there, we identified his needs, in this case a roof, and we helped him apply with Owens Corning.”
Roofing materials sit ready to be used. (Dave Herndon – MediaNews Group)
The “Roof Deployment Project” program from Owens Corning then asks all of their “preferred” contractors to look at the project and see if anyone is willing to do it. In this case Shoenherr Roofing took on the project. It was the second project of the summer for Shoenherr, according to their owner. He said they would be doing at least two more free roofing projects this year, including one they do on their own around Veterans Day.
Johnson said the house in Dearborn Heights was the first they’ve done in the city with this particular program.
“This is our first Roof Deployment, but we’ve done other full home assessments,” she said. “We also work with some other partners to provide the first time home buyer programs, and the full home assessments,” she said.”
Johnson said anyone needing help can look at the Habitat for Humanity Detroit website, but that currently they only have help in the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights area for veterans or families of veterans.
“The veteran repair program is open until Aug. 31,” she said. “Any veteran who needs a whole home assessment can go to our website and complete the intake form.”
That website is HabitatDetroit.org.
A worker removes old shingles from the roof. (Dave Herndon – MediaNews Group)
The Roof Deployment Project was established in 2016 by Owens Corning Roofing and its Platinum Preferred Contractors to identify, honor and help protect veterans by installing new roofs.
Shoenherr said that his family has been involved in several branches of the military, which is part of why he decided to give back through this program, starting in 2020.
The project in Dearborn Heights took about six hours for the crew to complete. Shoenherr said it was about $4,000 worth of labor for this project, but that didn’t include the materials needed.
He said that in addition to this program, his company does two to three roofs a year, based on need, where they provide the labor and materials.
The old roof on the house was replaced in about six hours. (Dave Herndon – MediaNews Group)
They are still looking for the family to help on Veterans Day this year. Anyone who qualifies can sign up at https://www.schoenherrroofing.com.
www.macombdaily.com
https://www.macombdaily.com/2023/08/24/dearborn-heights-veteran-gifted-new-roof-from-habitat-for-humanity-schoenherr-roofing/
