Rebuilding Together is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization working to preserve homeownership and neighborhoods by providing rehabilitation services free of charge to those in need. Through the support of corporate sponsors, local businesses, and the hands-on work of a quarter-million volunteers, Rebuilding Together rehabs and repairs more than 9,000 homes each year. The market value of this work is in excess of $100 million annually.
Rebuilding Together responds to the needs of low-income homeowners including families at risk, the elderly and veterans through four specific practice areas: Safe & Healthy Homes, Disaster Recovery &Reconstruction, Veterans Housing, and National Rebuilding Day to ensure that homeowners live in safe, warm and dry homes. Rebuilding Together celebrated the rehabilitation of its 100,000th home in 2006 and has grown to more than 225 affiliates nationwide since its founding in 1988.
We make our local impact through providing necessary repairs free of charge to existing homeowners in the Geneseo and Cambridge School Districts. These necessary repairs often include roofing, plumbing, and electrical repairs and/or improvements - our goal is to provide a warm, safe and dry environment for low-income homeowners, enabling them to live independently and with dignity.
We are a local affiliate, organized in 1994, of a national organization. Rebuilding Together 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.
Why Are These 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. 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.
How are Homeowners Selected? Homeowners must be low-income and elderly, disabled, or families with children, and unable to do the work themselves. Individual families are referred through neighborhood associations, churches, synagogues, community organizations, and service groups, or by self-referral.
When Do We Work? Our affiliate works all year round performing home modifications, and work throughout the year to plan our home rehabilitation efforts for the last Saturday in April and a Saturday early in October.
Who Volunteers? Anyone 14 years and over can volunteer! And Rebuilding Together needs people with many talents and abilities — from people who can help scrape paint to those who are trained craftsmen. Business executives, students, bus drivers, politicians and policemen pitch in annually across America to help build better communities. Tradespeople are always in demand and carpenters, plumbers, electricians, roofers, and others with special skills donate their time as house captains and crew leaders.
What does it cost? All home rehabilitation services are free for low-income 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.
Our home modification services are provided to all homeowners, regardless of income. Low-income persons receive free modifications; middle income persons are asked to contribute material costs; high income persons are asked to contribute material and labor costs.
Who Sponsors Rebuilding Together? Funds come from generous individuals, corporations, foundations, civic organizations, churches, and schools that are interested in helping to build a better world. Rebuilding Together is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization supported by voluntary contributions of time and money. Every dollar given is leveraged to create four dollars in market value through donated materials and labor.
Is My Contribution Tax-Deductible? Yes. All contributions are tax-deductible. Contributions can be sent to Rebuilding Together Geneseo/Cambridge, P.O. Box 254, Geneseo, IL 61254.
How Can I Get Help or Refer Someone? For a referral form, please call Rev. David Esche (309) 944-5189, Steve Durian (309) 441-5327, or Scott Smith (309) 937-3339.
Our Cumulative Impact 1994-2007
- Impacted 156 homeowner families and 3 non-profit facilities
- Work done in Andover, Atkinson, Cambridge and Geneseo
- 2,417 volunteers
- 19,487 hours of time committee
- $572,703 in market value, based on purchased and donated material and donated labor
Rebuilding Together National Cumulative Impact 1988-2007
- 105,020 houses and non-profit facilities rehabilitated
- involving 2.5 million volunteers, committing to 24 million hours of volunteer time
- Delivering $1 billion market value