Rebuilding Together to Revitalize Underserved Communities Nationwide

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2019 — Rebuilding Together, a leading national nonprofit dedicated to repairing homes and revitalizing communities, is celebrating National Rebuilding Month this April by serving approximately 3,000 neighbors in need of critical home repairs throughout the country.

Throughout April, Rebuilding Together’s network of nearly 130 affiliates, with community partners and thousands of volunteers, will serve veterans, older adults, families with children and victims of disaster by providing them with a variety of critical, safe and healthy home repairs. The repairs are provided at no cost to the recipients, who are often faced with diminishing resources, and living in reduced circumstances.

These repairs deliver practical solutions that allow homeowners and their families to be safer, healthier and more independent in their homes.

More than 1.65 million homeowners struggle with the health and economic implications
of living in unsafe and unstable homes. Research consistently shows a direct correlation between the physical and social environments of neighborhoods to major health indicators like mortality, disability, birth outcomes, chronic health conditions, mental health, injuries and violence.

“This year during National Rebuilding Month, we want to start a larger conversation around the connection between health and housing,” said Caroline Blakely, President and CEO of Rebuilding Together. “Too many of our neighbors throughout the country are suffering the health and economic consequences of living in substandard housing and unsafe communities.”

Rebuilding Together’s work extends far beyond home repairs, and addresses major community needs. Local affiliates, with community partners, work to address local issues and bring about immediate, positive change that strengthens entire communities. 

“What began as a grassroots effort to repair homes and revitalize communities is now a nationwide movement to ensure everyone can live in a safe home and healthy community,” said Blakely.

The annual month-long call to service will culminate on National Rebuilding Day, Saturday, April 27, with volunteers working to complete repairs on homes, nonprofit facilities and community spaces to bring immediate, transformative change to neighborhoods across America.

Last year, over 30,000 volunteers donated 230,000 hours throughout National Rebuilding Month. This April, we hope that the past year of planning, training, and mobilizing community volunteers across the country enables us to top those numbers, set new records and cause an immediate large-scale impact to communities nationwide.

For more information on how to improve the health of your community during National Rebuilding Month and to get involved, visit rebuildingtogether.org/nrm and follow #RebuildingMonth on social media.