Disabled woman gets extreme home makeover

An extreme home makeover is under way for a disabled woman in Colorado Springs.

Dorothea Briers is mentally and physically disabled. She lives on her own and is unable to work.

Her house was built in the 1960s and is falling apart.

Steve Caldwell, owner of Stonegate Homes in Colorado Springs, and his construction crew began gutting out her home this weekend.

Caldwell said he hopes to have all the prep work, which includes ripping out all the drywall, door jams and molded boards, done by Wednesday or Thursday.

“It’s not the fun part, let’s put it that way. The fun part will be rebuilding it to make it look nice again,” said Caldwell.

There has been an overwhelming response from the community to help Briers. Caldwell said there are about 60 people who have volunteered time, money and materials to give Briers a new home.

“It would be a big job for a homeowner, but we have good professional people working on the house. This is really a no-brainer, the whole thing. When we’re done she’ll be in a house that looks like it was built in 2013,” he said.

Caldwell said he is still looking for a furniture store that would be willing to donate furniture for several rooms in Briers’ home. If you would like to help or know someone who would, please contact Steve Caldwell at 719-597-2353.

A fundraiser has also been set up for Briers on Saturday Dec. 8 at Oscars Bar and Grill on 333 S. Tejon St. downtown Colorado Springs.

Oscars will have food and drink specials all day and it will donate 10 percent of total sales to Briers. She will also make an appearance around 1p.m. to thank the community for all of their help.

The Airport Value Inn & Suites is providing a room for Dorothea to stay, until her house is complete, free of charge.