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| Rebuilding
Together Thanks
you. |
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| What
Is Rebuilding Together (formerly Christmas in April)? |
Rebuilding Together is a nationwide home repair and rehabilitation
initiative dedicated to keeping low-income homeowners, particularly
the elderly, disabled and families with children living in dignity,
decency, safety, warmth and independence through volunteer services.
Volunteers from all ages, faiths and walks of life come together to
help their neighbors remain in their homes.
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To preserve and revitalize communities- one home, one neighborhood,
one community at a time.
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We are committed to helping low-income individuals and families with
respect of their integrity, dignity and assets to strengthen lives,
homes and communities.
We work in partnership with neighborhoods, involving residents in
all aspects of our work. We value collaboration with other groups who
share similar goals.
We believe in quality planning, delivery and evaluation of our services.
We believe in inclusiveness, and seek to promote a diversity that
is reflective or our communities.
We commit to deliver free services through volunteer labor along with
cost effective leveraging of donated materials, supplies and labor.
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Twenty-two percent of all Americans are shelter poor, meaning they
cannot afford basic minimum necessities after paying housing costs.
Therein lies the paradox: they have a home, but cannot afford to maintain
it.
Many of our neighbors have worked hard all their lives and have been
able, physically and financially, to repair their own homes for most
of that time. Now due to illness, aging, inflation, or any number of
uncontrollable causes, they are unable to do the repair work themselves
and their homes have become unsafe, unhealthy and unliveable. In Montgomery
County, there are 12,104 very low-income owner occupied households of
which 5,761 are elderly persons. Montgomery County Consolidated Plan
states that 34% of these elderly homeowner have some sort of house problems.
Problems defined as, paying too much for housing costs, lack of complete
kitchens, and/or lack of plumbing Overall, the plan indicated that a
high number of Montgomery County residents are suffering a housing cost
burden, thus making it impossible to contribute any funds to the maintenance
and repair of their homes. Our neighbors then find themselves living
with leaking roofs, no plumbing and overloaded electrical wiring. This
individuals and families who are not able to maintain their homes jeopardize
the equity they have counted on to last them through retirement. The
community and neighborhoods in which these homeowners live also suffer.
Neglected housing problems lower house values and become more expensive
to fix over a long period of time. The consequences of housing neglect
and deterioration can be serious and expensive.
Rebuilding Together volunteers make a lasting impression. Financially
strapped homeowners are relieved of their fears of being forced to leave
their homes because they cannot keep them above city/county codes. AARP
Housing Needs Survey reported that 83% of older people want to age in
place but, 59% of these older low-income owners are unable to devote
any funds to the maintenance of their homes. Rebuilding Together enables
these elderly homeowners to grow old in their homes where they built
a lifetime of memories. Communities are empowered through their involvement.
Volunteers and sponsoring companies receive satisfaction from getting
out and making a tangible contribution to neighbors in need. Rebuilding
Together is much more than simply fixing houses, its about making communities
better places to live.
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Low income homeowners, particularly the elderly and disabled, who
cannot maintain their homes, as well as nonprofit facilities, are eligible
for our services. All work is done free of charge. Individual families
are referred through congregaions, schools, community agencies and service
groups or by self-referral. To receive consideration, candidates must
complete and submit an application form and provide documentation of
home ownership and total household income.
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Various congregations, neighborhood, community and service organizations
refer homes to us as well as individual homeowners may make self-referral
applications. A preview/work-scope visit is made by a skilled trades
person. A committee of the board comprised of neighborhood leaders and
skilled tradespeople makes the difficult decisions in prioritizing applicants.
The Board of Directors makes the final determination as to whether the
house referred meets eligibility criteria.
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Rebuilding Together*Montgomery County focuses on repairs and modifications
that will increase the health, safety, and independence. Skilled tradespeople
join with the unskilled in performing the following repairs: installing
handrails and grab bars, replacing porches and stairs, correcting electrical
hazards, repairing on going plumbing problems, hauling accumulated trash
and debris, repairing roof leaks, installing locks on doors and windows,
glazing, weather-stripping, building wheelchair access ramps, patching
and painting walls, yard work, and securing medical equipment and disability
aids to maximize the mobility and independence of elderly homeowners.
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All repairs are free to the homeowners. Labor and supplies are donated
or purchased by the local program. Homeowners and able-bodied family
members are asked to welcome the volunteers into their homes and work
alongside them in the spirit of neighbor-helping-neighbor. Again, this
year we will moving countless gallons of paint, boxes of nails, lumber,
roofing material, sealant, pipes and even such fixtures, such as stoves,
bathtubs and stall showers. Some materials are donated, others purchased
-- often at wholesale prices. The average cost of the material for each
home renovation is underwritten by sponsoring businesses.
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Anyone aged 14 or older can be a volunteer. Business executives, students,
secretaries, doctors, lawyers, bus drivers, police officers, firefighters,
housewives, public officials, bankers, real-estate personnel all pitch
in to help build a better community. Skilled tradespeople are always
in keen demand -- and indeed, thousands of carpenters, plumbers, electricians,
roofers and those possessing other skills donate their time.
Corporations, congregations, businesses, schools, community service
organizations, trade associations, government employee groups, and many
interested individuals volunteer every year. In the past, volunteers
have represented just about every profession and walk-of-life in this
community. Volunteers do not need to be skilled at home repair work
to participate.
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Since 1990, more than 33,335 skilled and unskilled volunteers
have donated their time and services to help low-income homeowners in
Montgomery County repair and renovate their homes. Everyone who would
like to participate in this very rewarding program is encouraged to
do so. While, most of the sponsors assemble their own volunteer teams,
we can always use more help. Carpenters, plumbers and electricians are
especially needed to help handle the unexpected situations that often
occur when work is performed on old houses.
Besides an average of ,570 volunteers who work on "Project Day",
there are many people who offer their services in the days and weeks
leading up to the actual event. Homes must be pre-inspected, estimates
and material lists must be prepared, volunteers need to be organized,
major roof repairs, plaster work, plumbing and electrical repairs all
need to be performed ahead of time so that everything goes smoothly
on the Project Day.
So, whether you are a skilled tradesperson, general handyman, project
manager, or just someone who wants to pitch in and help their neighbors,
we welcome your help and support.
Please join us as we prepare to celebrate the "Spirit of Giving"
during Rebuilding Day 2007 on Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29,
2007. You will be very glad that you did!
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Funds come from corporations, individuals, labor organizations, foundations,
civic organizations, churches and synagogues interested in helping build
a better world. Rebuilding Together Montgomery County is a non-profit
organization supported primarily by voluntary contributions of time
and money. We are responsible for our own fund-raising, publicity, volunteer
recruitment and management.
Rebuilding Together Montgomery County is supported by the generous
donations of our sponsors and volunteers. Since 1990, with your support,
we have been able to "rebuild" 1,139 homes in Montgomery County,
Maryland.
Home sponsorship consists of a $2,500 contribution per house for a non-profit sponsoring group to $5,000 contribution for a corporation, which
covers the costs of materials and supplies needed to repair the home,
as well as roofing, plumbing, electrical, and other major repairs throughout
the neighborhood. Rebuilding Together Montgomery County is a 501(c)(3)
organization and all contributions are tax-deductible.
Sponsors are encouraged to provide their own volunteer group to complete
the work on their sponsored home(s). Volunteer groups consist of a House
Captain, who manages the project, a Co-Captain who assists the House
Captain, and a House Ambassador, who work directly with the homeowner,
and anywhere from a 15 to more than 30 skilled and unskilled volunteers
per house. If you do not have the volunteers available to complete the
work, we will try to help provide them.
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No. The program embraces all people: all faiths, walks of life, racial
and ethnic groups, ages and sexes. The spirit of the program is that
of giving and sharing, hence the former title "Christmas in April".
The name was conferred by a Midland, Texas beneficiary who, in expressing
her appreciation for the work done at her house, described it as being
just like "Christmas...but only in April"!!
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Operating in hundreds of cities and towns across the nation, Rebuilding
Together will rehabilitate more than 8,900 homes and non-profit facilities
in 2007.
Locally, we have rehabilitated 1,139 homes in just 16 years
with, 42 projects planned for April 2007. These numbers will increase
as volunteers and funding increases.
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There are numerous ways to get
involved! From individuals volunteering to corporations and organizations
adopting a home. We can make good use of donations of time, labor, money,
appliances, building supplies and materials, and furniture.
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 Donations
should be made to:
Rebuilding Together *MC
3925 Plyers Mill Road
Kensington, MD 20895
All donations are tax-deductible as provided by law and go directly
to Rebuilding Together.. Your volunteer
support and contributions can assist us in achieving our mission of
helping low-income seniors and disabled people in need.
Donate Online: You can donate on line at Helping.org.
This web site provides a safe and secure way to donate
to Rebuilding Together by using your credit card. Support Rebuilding
Together with your financial contribution. Your gift immediately helps
families and communities. A contribution to Rebuilding Together is a
tangible and effective way to rebuild America one house at a time.
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