About Us - "Rebuild, Revitalize, Renew"

What is the mission? Our mission is to preserve and revitalize houses and communities, assuring that low-income homeowners, particularly those who are elderly and disabled and families with children, live in warmth, safety, and independence. Our goal is to make a sustainable impact in partnership with communities. While some affiliates provide year-round services, all affiliates plan and prepare for National Rebuilding Day, typically held on the last Saturday in April.

The national organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and promotes the replication and coordination of affiliates throughout the United States. Founded in 1988, the national office provides assistance to affiliates in program development, board and staff development, marketing, communications, and financial management.

What is our national impact? As the largest volunteer home rehabilitation organization in America, our work takes place in 865 cities and towns in all 50 states. The cumulative effort through the year 2003 is a total of 2 million volunteers have worked over 21 million hours to rehabilitate 70,000 houses and non-profit facilities. In 2003, more than 257,250 women and men will donate over 2.6 million hours of time to rehabilitate more than 8,050 houses and non-profit facilities.  

What type of work is done? Each local program sets its own goals. Some affiliates provide emergency year-round services in addition to the major rehabilitation projects they undertake on National Rebuilding Day. Some affiliates choose to do significant work preserving and revitalizing non-profit facilities. In 2002, each affiliate will rehabilitate from three to 400 houses and non-profit facilities. Some affiliates organize their work in a one-day blitz while others work over several weekends. The unskilled volunteers join with skilled trades people, painting, cleaning, and weatherizing and doing carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work.

How are homeowners selected? Homeowners must be low-income and elderly, disabled, or families with children, and unable to do the work themselves. The site selection process takes place locally, within broad national guidelines. Criteria differ slightly from affiliate to affiliate. Individual families are referred through neighborhood associations, churches, synagogues, community organizations, and service groups, or by self-referral.

Do homeowners pay? All repairs are free for homeowners. Labor and many 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. A homeowner brochure is provided to clarify our process and partnership.

Who sponsors Rebuilding Together? 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 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.

For more information:  

Contact Rebuilding Together Thurston County at 360-943-5242