A community service program run by a Wisconsin roofing and siding contractor is offering free major exterior repairs to families in two Lake Michigan counties who cannot otherwise afford the work. The Gellings Roofing On the House program has drawn attention from homeowners across eastern Wisconsin for its simple promise: qualified applicants pay nothing for a new roof or replacement siding.

How the Program Works

The On the House program is operated by Gellings Roofing and Siding, a company based in the Sheboygan area with decades of experience in residential exterior work. Company leaders describe the effort as a way to reinvest in the communities where their crews have worked for years. Rather than donate cash to a third-party charity, Gellings puts its own employees and warehouse materials to work directly on homes in need.

The program is self-funded. That means the company draws on surplus shingles, siding panels, and accessories already sitting in its warehouse, then pays its installation crews to do the work during regular business hours. Homeowners do not apply for a grant or pay back a loan. If accepted, their project is simply scheduled and completed at no cost.

Who Is Eligible

The program targets homeowners in Sheboygan and Manitowoc counties who need help they cannot afford to pay for on their own. That includes households that have experienced a recent economic hardship, a natural disaster, or a medical event that drained savings. It also includes residents living with a disability that makes routine home maintenance difficult, and lower-income seniors whose homes have fallen behind on major repairs.

Applicants typically must document that they own and occupy the home as their primary residence. A project is usually limited to work that affects the safety or weather-tightness of the home, not cosmetic upgrades. A roof with active leaks, rotted fascia, missing shingles after a storm, or cracked and failing siding all fit the program's scope.

Why Roofs and Siding Matter So Much

A roof is the single most important barrier between a family and the weather. When it fails, water damage spreads quickly through attic insulation, ceilings, walls, and eventually the home's structural framing. Repairs delayed for even a single season can multiply in cost as mold takes hold and wood begins to rot.

Siding plays a similar protective role. Aged or damaged siding lets moisture reach the wall sheathing behind it, creating the same cascading damage. In a climate like Wisconsin's, where freeze-thaw cycles hammer exteriors from November through April, keeping the envelope tight is essential. For a homeowner on a fixed income, a full siding or roof replacement can easily run fifteen to twenty-five thousand dollars or more, putting it out of reach without help.

The Role of Private Community Programs

The On the House program highlights the broader role private contractors and small businesses can play in filling gaps that government programs cannot reach quickly. Federal grants through USDA Rural Development and state funding through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority help many homeowners, but applications can take months to process and funds run out.

A locally administered program run by the people who will actually do the work cuts out that waiting time. It also lets the company apply professional judgment at the site visit rather than relying on paperwork alone. For families in crisis, that responsiveness can be the difference between keeping a home livable and watching it decline.

How to Apply

Homeowners interested in the Gellings On the House program can contact the company directly through its website or by phone. Applicants generally submit a brief description of their situation and the condition of the home, along with proof of ownership and residency. The company's team reviews applications, visits homes that appear to match the program criteria, and selects projects based on need and feasibility.

Because the program is privately funded, the number of homes served each year is limited. Not every applicant will be chosen, and waiting times can stretch during the peak roofing season. Homeowners who are not selected are often referred to other community resources, including weatherization assistance programs, county aging offices, and local Habitat for Humanity affiliates that run their own home repair efforts.

Other Help for Wisconsin Homeowners

Residents who need repair help but do not live in Sheboygan or Manitowoc counties can look to several statewide options. The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program offers weatherization upgrades for income-qualified households. USDA Rural Development provides Section 504 grants and low-interest loans for low-income rural homeowners to fix health and safety hazards. County aging and disability resource centers can also connect older adults to minor home modification funding through Older Americans Act programs.

For seniors and homeowners with disabilities, accessibility modifications such as ramps, grab bars, and step-free entries are often eligible for state and federal grants separate from roof and siding programs. Combining several sources can sometimes cover a complete home repair package without the homeowner paying anything out of pocket.

A Model for Giving Back

The Gellings program demonstrates how a trade contractor can give back to the communities that built its business. By converting unused inventory and labor hours into a visible community service, the company turns what might otherwise be overhead into lasting improvements to a neighbor's home. For the families chosen, a new roof or new siding means a warmer, drier, and safer place to live for years to come.

Wisconsin Homeowners Get Free Roof and Siding Work From Gellings