Your Roof Repair Doesn’t Have to Become a Financial Crisis
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
I’ve spent my career working at the intersection of housing, finance, and community impact—and one truth has remained constant: the families who most need access to affordable capital are often the ones who have the least access to it.
In Arizona, I’ve met countless homeowners doing everything right. They’ve worked hard to purchase their homes, they’re committed to maintaining them, and they’re trying to make smart investments—like replacing an aging HVAC system, installing solar to reduce utility bills, or repairing a leaking roof before it becomes a much bigger problem. But when the moment comes to act, they’re met with a frustrating and often discouraging reality: their financing options are either unavailable or unaffordable.
For many, the only accessible solutions are high-interest credit cards or HELOCs with rates ranging from 15% to 25%. Even more concerning are the financing structures embedded within some “green” upgrade programs. What appears to be an affordable solar or home improvement loan often carries hidden dealer or broker fees—sometimes as high as 40% or even 50% of the project cost. These fees are rarely transparent, and homeowners end up paying significantly more than they realize.
That didn’t sit right with me.
We talk a lot about sustainability and energy efficiency, but we don’t talk enough about who actually gets to participate in that future. Right now, too many families—especially low- to moderate-income households—are effectively locked out. These are also the households most likely to be energy insecure, meaning they spend a disproportionate share of their income on utilities. The very upgrades that could reduce their monthly expenses and improve their quality of life remain out of reach.
And then there are the families who fall into what I call the “middle gap.” They earn too much to qualify for free assistance programs, but not enough—or not in the right way—to qualify for traditional financing. If they live in a mobile home, their options become even more limited. In many cases, banks simply won’t lend for repairs at all. Repairs get delayed. Energy bills stay high. Homes become less safe. And the cycle continues.
EarthWise was built to interrupt that cycle.
We designed EarthWise with a simple but powerful goal: to create a pathway to affordable, transparent capital for homeowners and small businesses who have been overlooked or underserved by traditional systems. That means no collateral requirements. No minimum credit score. No income minimums or maximums. No requirement for home equity.
And critically—no broker fees.
That last piece matters more than most people realize. By eliminating broker fees, we remove one of the biggest hidden cost drivers in solar and home improvement financing. It allows us to offer what we believe is one of the most affordable solar loan options available, without inflating the project cost behind the scenes.
But affordability alone isn’t enough. Trust is just as important.
We’ve heard too many stories from homeowners who felt misled or overwhelmed during the contractor process. That’s why we’ve made contractor vetting a core part of the EarthWise program. Every contractor in our network is carefully reviewed to ensure they meet our standards for quality, reliability, and integrity. When a homeowner moves forward with a project through EarthWise, they’re not just accessing capital—they’re accessing a system designed to support a successful outcome from start to finish.
At its core, this work is about more than loans. It’s about stability. It’s about dignity. And it’s about expanding access to the kinds of opportunities that allow families to build and protect their wealth over time.
Homeownership has long been one of the most powerful tools for generational wealth-building. But that promise only holds if homeowners have the resources to maintain and improve what they’ve worked so hard to achieve. When a roof fails or an HVAC system breaks down, it shouldn’t become a financial crisis. When a family wants to invest in energy efficiency, it shouldn’t require navigating a maze of hidden fees and predatory terms.
We can do better—and with EarthWise, we are.
Arizona families deserve access to capital that is fair, transparent, and designed with their long-term success in mind. They deserve solutions that meet them where
they are, not systems that shut them out.
This is why EarthWise exists. And this is just the beginning.
About Groundswell Capital
Groundswell Capital is a mission-driven lending nonprofit dedicated to sustainable economic growth, focusing on clean energy, small business financing, and community development. By aligning financial returns with environmental and social responsibility, Groundswell Capital is helping to shape a resilient and equitable future for Arizona.
For media inquiries, contact:
Dre Thompson
President,
Groundswell Capital
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