| Lowe's announces $1 Million partnership with Rebuilding Together to rehab and repair homes. |
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Rebuilding Together Greater Milwaukee's Rebuilding Day will be held on Saturday, May 17th. The unskilled volunteers join with skilled trade people, painting, cleaning, and doing carpentry, plumbing and electrical work.
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Your donation could help buy:
$10 = Box of Nails
$35 = Roof Shingles
$50 = Low Flow Toilet
$75 = Window
$100 = Kitchen Sink
$150 = Front Door
$500 = Siding
$1000 = Wallboard
$2000 = Flooring
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| | Rebuilding Together Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Rebuilding Together?
- What is the impact of Rebuilding Together?
- Why are services needed?
- How are projects selected?
- Do homeowners pay?
- Who do we serve?
- Is this a National program?
- What is our National impact?
- What type of work is done?
- What is Rebuilding Day?
- How are homeowners selected?
- Who sponsors Rebuilding Together Greater Milwaukee?
- Is my contribution tax-deductible?
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1. What is Rebuilding Together?
Rebuilding Together is a national volunteer organization that works with local communities to rehabilitate the houses of low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly and disabled, so that they may continue to live independently in warmth and safety.
After months of planning and preparation, work culminates in a national Rebuilding Day, the Saturday before Memorial Day weekend. Volunteers from throughout the community join to help their neighbors and community.
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2. What is the impact of Rebuilding Together?
Operating in 865 cities and towns in all 50 states, Rebuilding Together rehabilitated 8,500 homes and nonprofit facilities in 2004 with the volunteer power of over 275,000 men, women and children. The projects were valued at more than $90 million. With volunteers eager to help, Rebuilding Together fills a desperate need, revitalizing neighborhoods as well as rehabilitating houses.
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3. Why are services needed?
The number of low-income homeowners increases each year. The current 24 million low-income homeowner families is expected to grow to an astonishing 28.5 million by the year 2010. 22% 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. This growth means that more and more families are placed in the position of choosing between vital necessities, such as food or medicine, or a roof that does not leak. Rebuilding Together works to ensure that as many of those families as possible do not have to make these difficult choices.
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4. How are projects selected?
Homeowners must be low-income and elderly, disabled, or families with children, and unable to do the work Individual families are referred through neighborhood associations, churches, synagogues, community organizations, and service groups, or by self-referral. Our House Selection Committee, with input from referring organizations, reviews applications submitted by the end of December. We then visit a selected group of homes to perfrom a site review. Final approval is made by the Board of Directors. back to top
5. Do homeowners pay?
No. All repairs are free for homeowners. Labor and some supplies are typically donated. Homeowners and family members are asked to welcome the volunteers into their homes and work alongside them to the extent possible. Our work is done WITH families and neighborhoods, not FOR them. back to top
6. Who do we serve?
We serve low-income homeowners who are elderly and/or people with disabilities in Milwaukee County and Waukesha County. A goal is to assure that the people we serve may remain in their own home – safe, warm and independent.
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7. Is this a National program?
Yes. Rebuilding Together Greater Milwaukee is an affiliate of a National program called Rebuilding Together . Rebuilding Together is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1988, the national office provides assistance to affiliates in program development, board and staff development, marketing, communications, and financial management. Please visit the national website at: www.rebuildingtogether.org
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8. What is our national impact?
As the largest volunteer home rehabilitation organization in America, our work takes place in 875 cities and towns in all 50 states. Nationally through the year 2006, almost 2.7 million volunteers have worked to rehabilitate 98,000 houses and non-profit facilities. In 2006, more than 300,000 men and women donated over 3 million hours of time to rehabilitate more than 9,000 houses and non-profit facilities.
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9. What type of work is done?
Each local program sets its own goals. We specialize in home modifications. Home modifications allow people with disabilities to remain safe and independent in their own home. Occupational therapists and students in the UWM Occupational therapy department assess each homeowner to determine where grab bars, handrails and other assistive devices should be installed. The general volunteers join with skilled trades people, painting, cleaning, doing carpentry, plumbing and electrical work.
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10. What is Rebuilding Day?
Rebuilding Day takes place on a Saturday in May, the weekend before Memorial Day weekend. In 2007, Rebuilding Day was May 19th. Rebuilding Day began at 8:00 a.m. in which volunteers come to work at their assigned home and worked until 5:00 p.m. It is a day of meeting new people, working as a team and a feeling of accomplishment when the day is over. This year Rebuilding Day is on Saturday, May 17th 2008.
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11. How are homeowners selected?
Homeowners must be low-income, live in Milwaukee County and are elderly and/or have disabilities and unable to do the work themselves. The site selection process takes place locally, within broad national guidelines. The site selection committee reviews the applications in November and December. The committee makes a recommendation to the board. All applicants are notified of the Board’s decision by March15.
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12. Who sponsors Rebuilding Together Greater Milwaukee?
Funds come from generous individuals, corporations, labor organizations, foundations, civic organizations, churches, and synagogues that are interested in helping to build a better world. Our local affiliates do their own fundraising, publicity, volunteer recruitment and management. Rebuilding Together Greater Milwaukee is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization supported by voluntary contributions of time and money. Every dollar given is wisely spent and is an investment in building a better America.
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13. Is my contribution tax-deductible?
Yes. All contributions are tax-deductible. Contributions can be sent to Rebuilding Together Greater Milwaukee, P.O. Box 510287, Milwaukee, WI 53203. Contributions can also be made directly on our Rebuilding Together website.
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