Rebuilding Together™

Exceptional Parent, The, July, 2007

Twenty four million!

That's how many low-income homeowners currently reside in the United States. As the cost of living soars, many of these residents, lacking the funds for the ongoing maintenance and inevitable upkeep that is inherent in home ownership, watch helplessly as their residences slide into disrepair. Not surprisingly, many among this 24 million are people challenged with various physical and intellectual disabilities. Their homes often are not accessibility friendly. According to Gary Officer, President and CEO of Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit that preserves and revitalizes houses all over the United States, approximately 1.3 million lower-income homeowners report a household member whose disabilities are serious enough to require special home modifications, equipment, or personal assistance.

And the number of low-income homeowners is increasing each year with an estimated 28.5 million expected by 2010. More and more families will find themselves in the position of choosing between buying food for the week or fixing a leaking roof, purchasing needed medication for the month or equipping a bathroom for handicap accessibility. This is where Rebuilding Together comes in, working to alleviate these agonizing either/or situations.

Like many American success stories, the genesis of Rebuilding Together is one of humble beginnings. Rebuilding Together, formerly known as Christmas in April, began in 1973 when volunteers in Midland, Texas decided to devote one day in April to repairing and sprucing up the dilapidated homes of neighbors in their community who were in a low-income bracket, had disabilities, or were elderly. By 1982, the program had reached the Washington, D.C. area, where volunteers included Cabinet members, White House staff, and other national figures. With a commitment to spread the program to every state, Rebuilding Together's national headquarters was launched in 1988. Rebuilding Together continues to grow as volunteers pour forth to transform homes and neighborhoods in communities nationwide. Last year Rebuilding Together reached a significant milestone after repairing and rehabilitating its 100,000th house! Last year alone, RT rehabbed 8900 and further increase is expected in 2007 with a projected number of 9100 homes. That number got a real boost on April 28, National Rebuild Day. While projects are accomplished throughout the course of the year, this annual signature RT event is held on the last Saturday of April, heralding back to the organization's beginnings. With tools in hand and hearts open to helping their neighbors, over 272,000 volunteers worked to preserve and revitalize over 7,500 homes that day.

RT's goal is one of beautiful simplicity: assure a warm, safe, and dry home for people in need, recognizing that adequate shelter is one of a person's most basic of needs. And looking at the bigger picture, RT realizes that homeownership stabilizes and strengthens communities; strong communities create a strong nation.

Eighteen hundred U.S. towns and cities, are served by an RT affiliate, and recipients are referred through community-based organizations or by self-referral which can be accomplished by filling out a form on RT's main website.

For more information about Rebuilding Together, go to www.rebuildingtogether.org.

Rebuilding Together Pasadena

Twenty-six years ago, Gary Charpentier suffered a spinal injury in a swimming accident that left him with no muscular control or sensation below his neck; he is able to get around in a wheelchair using mouth controls. Forty five Rebuilding Together Pasadena volunteers from Big Sunday and David Gooler Construction over two weekends made $70,000 in home renovations this spring to make Gary's home more accessible--replacing the roof, repairing the handicapped ramp, priming and painting the living room and house exterior, putting in a kitchen floor, repairing the electrical system, replacing motion detectors, and providing a hospital bed with self-oscillating compression to prevent bedsores. "I was a plumber before the accident, and it's hard not being able to make needed repairs to the house myself," said Charpentier. "The house renovations have been liberating because I can come and go by myself; otherwise, it was risking my life just going room to room."

Joan Gardenhire's mobility issues and lupus made returning to her childhood home from assisted living unsafe, so RTP volunteers from Countrywide Financial Corp. made $50,000 in home accessibility renovations, ensuring that her late mother's wishes for Joan to live in safety and dignity are fulfilled.

Since 1992, Rebuilding Together Pasadena has complete 160 projects with an estimated value of over $2.3 million. This is the first year that all RTP recipients are homeowners with disabilities. RTP's Web site is www.rtpasadena.org, and the email address is rtpasadena@yahoo.com.

Rebuilding Together Bergen County

Rebuilding Together Bergen County (RTBC), in New Jersey, was founded in 1998 by the Junior League of Bergen County and since then has completed 119 renovations. The group works in partnership with local professional skilled labor businesses and with hundreds of community volunteers. Financial support from local lending institutions, corporations, religious congregations, civic groups, and individuals is leveraged with donations of materials and supplies as RTBC tackles a variety of projects.