This Kent city worker is a homeowner’s dream

Jeff Veach is the city of Kent’s handyman for homeowners who cannot afford minor repairs.

Jeff Veach

Jeff Veach

Veach keeps residents’ homes in repair

Jeff Veach is the city of Kent’s handyman for homeowners who cannot afford minor repairs.

Veach, a city home-repair specialist, does projects that range from changing shower heads and light bulbs to building patio decks and wheelchair ramps for low- to moderate-income homeowners.

“I love it if I can help people out,” Veach said Tuesday, from a small city shop on West Smith Street before heading out in a city home repair van on another call. “They’re so thankful. It makes me feel good to know the program is reaching out and helping.”

To be eligible for the service, residents must have owned their home for at least one year and can’t have exceeded federal-income guidelines. The service is funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant program. Kent has been a part of the grant program since 1978.

Residents must apply to the city for the service. City officials give preference to senior citizens, low-income and disabled residents. The city provided service to 150 homes last year, with return calls for additional repairs to several of the residences.

Veach and Darrel Hammack, city home repair coordinator, do all of the minor repairs. Plumbing, electrical work and bigger projects are contracted to south county businesses, although Hammack and Veach have installed new roofs.

Veach, 45, who has worked the city job for 10 years, has become close to many of the people he serves.

“They become more than clients,” Veach said. “They become friends. And when they pass away, it hurts. I’ve known some of them for 10 years. Some I’ve helped since day one.”

Applications by residents for the program are approved through the city Housing and Human Services department. Veach and Hammack then receive an appointment to inspect the house and evaluate more than 40 items, including attics, furnaces, windows and doors, to see what repairs might be needed. Once they’ve done that, they’ll fit out a work order.

Veach’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.

“He’s a great fit and works well with clients,” Hammack said of Veach. “He understands their needs and listens to what they say. He provides the service he would want someone to provide to his mom or grandma.”

Residents often have a tough time understanding that the service is free. Even though they have little money, some residents who use the service want to give $5 or more to Veach for his work.

“Some try to offer money,” Veach said. “I tell them we can take cookies, but we can’t take money. We go back the next day for cookies.”

A few people try to get Veach to do more than the program allows.

“It’s not a wish list,” Veach said. “We can’t add a room or put in new carpet if there’s nothing wrong with it. But 99.9 percent of the clients are very nice and grateful for the program.”

Veach started in the home-repair field growing up in Renton because his father ran a home-remodeling business. He joined his father on the job, but didn’t want to take over when his father retired 10 years ago. Since his father performed contract work for the city of Kent, Veach applied for a home-repair specialist job with the city.

Outside of work, Veach, who lives in Kent, drag races a 1969 Mustang Mach I on the Northwest Racing Association pro stock circuit. He races about twice a month from March to September at tracks in Kent, Bremerton and Woodburn, Ore. He has reached speeds of 143 mph and covered the course in 9.62 seconds.

“Most are into football; I’m into motors,” Veach said, of most guys. “I’ve won a few races, but I lose more than I win. I do not have enough money to go fast.”

Veach, who is remarried with four adult children, also owns a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He has made about 10 trips over the last dozen years to the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.

But while he enjoys drag racing and riding his Harley, he also gets plenty of satisfaction on his job.

“We do a little bit of everything,” Veach said. “It’s not your average job, where you do the same thing day after day. The rewards are the job is constantly changing and in the good people you meet.”

For more information about the city’s home-repair program, call 253-856-5065 or go to www.ci.kent.wa.us/humanservices.

Contact Steve Hunter at 253-872-6600, ext. 5052 or shunter@reporternewspapers.com.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Man fatally shot by Kent Police had high blood alcohol level

Crime lab test results show 0.27 blood concentration level in August 2024 shooting at apartments

Courtesy Photo, City of Kent
Construction set in Kent for 74th Ave. S. and Willis Street

Crews to install traffic islands, curbing at busy intersection

t
Kent Police Blotter: Jan. 26 to Feb. 6

Incidents include vehicle prowls, carjacking arrest, police pursuits, shots fired

Kentlake High School. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Former Kentlake High School teacher pleads guilty to sex charge

Jesse Webb, 46, pleads guilty to communication with a minor for immoral purposes

t
Kent School Board appoints Teresa Gregory to vacant seat

Gregory selected from among 7 finalists to replace Awale Farah

Karen Keiser. COURTESY PHOTO
Former state Sen. Karen Keiser appointed to state Exchange health board

Health Benefit Exchange formed as part of Affordable Care Act

Crews on the SR 509 Completion Project in south King County install the framework for a new bus stop on SR 516, also known as Kent-Des Moines Road. The SR 509 Completion Project includes new or improved connections to existing transit centers and stops. COURTESY PHOTO, WSDOT
Eastbound SR 516 ramp to I-5 in Kent to close for 4 months

Drivers heading to northbound I-5 will use a temporary left turn lane

Courtesy Photo, King County
Tacoma boy, 17, charged with murder in November 2024 Kent case

Reportedly fired six shots into vehicle that killed 21-year-old SeaTac man on West Hill

t
CW series ‘Police 24/7’ features Kent indecent exposure case

Department also part of future TV episodes after crews responded on calls with police in 2024

t
Kent mobile home park fire displaces 7 people, kills family dog

Cause of accidental fire Feb. 6 in 24400 block of 64th Avenue S. remains under investigation

File Photo
Police arrest man at Kent hotel wanted for Alabama murder

Officers take fugitive into custody Feb. 5 for December 2024 shooting

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Seven candidates to interview for Kent School Board vacancy

School Board members scheduled to select replacement at Tuesday night, Feb. 11 special meeting