Good Works: Helping homeowners save their homes

07:30 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 12, 2005

By Jerome Gray / 11 News

Click to watch video

The American dream of owning a home can quickly turn into a nightmare if the house is falling apart. But going up against a developer can be a losing battle. John Cabarruvias is showing homeowners how to win their fight.

KHOU

John Cabarruvias shows homeowners how to win their fight.

The Gentrys met Cabarruvias recently to ask him to help save their home.

"Our crack on the floor it started out here by the post out in the patio and went all way across where the plug and all the way through the house," explained Rex Gentry.

The Gentrys didn't know it at the time, but a cracked foundation was just the beginning of the problems in their new home.

"This wall -- when you put your hands on it and push on it -- would move three-quarters, half-inch back and forth," said Rex Gentry.

"I cried for a year," said Ruth Gentry.

That's where Cobarruvias stepped in. For over 10 years, he's been a volunteer with the group Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings or HADD.

"We help everbody who has a defect with a homebuilder," said Cobarruvias. "We do this out of our own time and with our own money."

For many frustrated homeowners, Cobarruvias and HADD are the last resort.

"We give people the ideas and tools to use so they can get their house fixed without the use of an attorney without the legal system," said Cobarruvias.

It took time, patience and quite a few phone calls for the Gentrys case.

"We're just so grateful that it did work and that John was able to help us," said Ruth Gentry.

Now the Gentrys are standing on solid ground.

"To help one person get through this where the state has not done, it's wonderful, it's great," said Cobarruvias.

11 News salutes John Cobarruvias for all of his good works.