Rebuilding Together: Safe and Healthy Homes

Published: 2012-11-12 - Updated: 2021-07-01
Author: Thomas C. Weiss | Contact: Disabled World (Disabled-World.com)

Main Digest

Rebuilding Together's philosophy is that everyone deserves a home to live in that is healthy and safe. Their primary focus is to provide critical repairs, energy efficient upgrades, as well as accessibility modifications to low-income homes and community centers at no cost to the people receiving the services. The impact Rebuilding Together is having goes far beyond the people they are serving, the organization is revitalizing and stabilizing entire neighborhoods and communities across America today.

Over a period of nearly 25 years, Rebuilding Together has provided homeowners in need with extensive home rehabilitation and modification. The organization has a network of 200 affiliated non-profit organizations that bring together 200,000 volunteers who complete 10,000 projects every single year. Rebuilding Together takes every single dollar that is donated and delivers four dollars of value to the projects they work on. All together that is greater than $1.3 billion in market value that has been reinvested into the communities the organization is in place to serve. Through the assistance of everyday volunteers from the community, skilled trades personnel, support from major corporations and local businesses, Rebuilding Together affiliates improve the lives of thousands of homeowners with low-incomes each year.

The work Rebuilding Together accomplishes positively impacts the condition of the surrounding community too, not only through projects such as playground builds, but through community center rehabilitation, sustainable community gardens, a focus on energy efficiency, education, and volunteer engagement. The organization is changing entire communities for the better - home by home and block by block. Rebuilding Together is assisting homeowners in need by bringing together and supporting a National Network of affiliates, corporate, and individual donors, volunteers, and skilled individuals and associations.

The Rebuilding Together Affiliate Network

The national office at Rebuilding Together represents almost 200 independent, non-profit and grass roots housing organizations across America. Every year in this nation, 10,000 homes and non-profit facilities are rehabilitated with the assistance of more than 200,000 volunteers. The organization understands that a home means far more than simply four walls.

Rebuilding Together pursues a unique, 'Whole-House,' approach to the restoration of homes. It takes the time to address structural issues as well as repairs that need to be done with the goal of supporting the well being of the people who live in the home. Along with, 'National Rebuilding Month,' in April the organization's affiliates work the rest of the year in 1,800 different cities and town in the United States of America to deliver emergency services, green building with the goal of conserving energy and consumption, and crucial home modifications.

Government, Non-profit Partners and Rebuilding Together

Working in conjunction with Federal, State, and Local government agencies, as well as non-profit organizations, has strengthened Rebuilding Together's ability to meet the needs of homeowners and the neighborhoods in which they live. A number of different agencies and organizations are involved with Rebuilding Together. What follows are some examples.

Corporation for National and Community Service:

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a Federal agency that works to serve more than 5 million people in America through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America. The agency leads President Obama's national call to serve initiative - United We Serve.

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD):

National VOAD is a forum where organizations share resources and knowledge throughout the disaster cycle such as preparation, response and recovery. The organizations pursue these goals in an effort to assist people who have lived through a disaster and their communities.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

HUD is a Federal agency with a focus on the creation of sustainable, strong, and inclusive communities with affordable and quality homes. The agency's key functions include its Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, which were established with the goal of eliminating lead-based paint hazards in the nation's low-income and privately-owned housing, and to lead America in addressing additional housing-related health hazards that threaten people.

Carter's Kids:

Carter's Kids is a non-profit organizations founded by Carter Oosterhouse. The organization is dedicated to the creation and promotion of awareness of self-esteem and fitness for young people in America through building and developing community playgrounds and parks in their neighborhoods. Carter Oosterhouse is an American television personality who gained fame as a carpenter on the TLC series, 'Trading Spaces,' and has also hosted additional how-to and home improvement television programs.

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation:

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has, since the year 2006, worked to fight issues that force people and families into economic despair. The Foundation, through funding and the creation of partnerships and programs, works to support innovative community efforts to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. The organization's goal is to recognize and maximize human potential in people who are affected by poverty and homelessness by offering them assistance by establishing programs that provide them with affordable housing, food, job training, and social services. The organization's goal is to help with rebuilding pride in a person's self and their community.

SkillsUSA:

SkillsUSA is a not-for-profit national association with 300,000 student and educator members who partner with business and industry with the goal of ensuring that America has a skilled workforce that is well prepared. Among those represented are 130 technical, trade, and skilled service occupational titles. The program is delivered through 3,700 different high school and two-year colleges in every state, Washington, D.C., as well as three U.S. territories. The mission of SkillsUSA is to empower its members to become world-class leaders, workers and responsible citizens.

Rebuilding Together's Efforts on Capitol Hill

Rebuilding Together is actively working with Members of Congress to talk about important issues related to housing as well as to inform the members of their most recent projects and their mission to preserve affordable home ownership. The organization is building relationships with Federal, State, and Local government members with the goal of ensuring that essential programs and services for home owners who are low-income are effective and to present the incredible work the organization has already completed in many communities, as well as across the nation. Rebuilding Together asks that you contact your member of Congress today and tell them that you support their work to preserve affordable home ownership and the organization's efforts to provide people with critical repairs to the homes of people who are living at the poverty line.

Advocacy Efforts and Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together supports the, 'Community Development Block Grant (CDBG),' which is a Federal formula grant program administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The CDBG provides flexible funding to State and Local governments so communities in America can address critical housing needs.

Senior Falls Prevention:

Rebuilding Together advocates for full-funding of $20.7 million for the Safety of Seniors Act for the Department of Health and Human Services to pursue research, outreach, as well as demonstration programs related to senior falls prevention.

Energy Efficiency and Green Housing:

While Congress starts to address national energy policy legislation, Rebuilding Together is urging the authorization of a Green Affordable Housing Non-Profit Partnership Demonstration Program within the Department of Energy.

Strengthening AmeriCorps:

Rebuilding Together supports funding for AmeriCorps as a sound investment where serving the housing needs of people in communities across America is concerned. The organization urges all Representatives of Congress to support funding for AmeriCorps.

Author Credentials:

Thomas C. Weiss is a researcher and editor for Disabled World. Thomas attended college and university courses earning a Masters, Bachelors and two Associate degrees, as well as pursing Disability Studies. As a Nursing Assistant Thomas has assisted people from a variety of racial, religious, gender, class, and age groups by providing care for people with all forms of disabilities from Multiple Sclerosis to Parkinson's; para and quadriplegia to Spina Bifida.

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Cite This Page (APA): Thomas C. Weiss. (2012, November 12). Rebuilding Together: Safe and Healthy Homes. Disabled World. Retrieved October 20, 2021 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/housing/rebuilding-together.php