Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together is a United States-based nonprofit that focuses on home repair, neighborhood revitalization, and disaster recovery for low-income homeowners. Founded in the early 1970s, the organization has grown into a national network coordinating local affiliates, professional contractors, corporate donors, and thousands of volunteers to address housing insecurity and preserve housing for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. Its activities intersect with disaster relief, community development, historical preservation, and public health efforts across American cities and towns.

History

The roots trace to initiatives by Habitat for Humanity International founders and the Fuller/Straubel movement in the 1970s when local repair brigades began work in cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, New York City, and Washington, D.C.. In the 1980s and 1990s the organization expanded through partnerships with philanthropic organizations like the Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and corporate sponsors such as Home Depot, Lowe's Companies, Inc., and Walmart Foundation. Major disaster responses connected its mission to relief operations after events including Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake—collaborations that involved agencies like the American Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and state emergency management offices. Its evolution paralleled trends in American nonprofit capacity building seen in associations such as United Way and Points of Light Foundation.

Mission and Programs

The stated mission emphasizes keeping low-income homeowners safe and living in their homes through free critical repairs and renovations. Programmatic work includes home safety modifications for older adults and veterans, accessibility retrofits, energy-efficiency upgrades, and lead-abatement projects that serve populations impacted by policies like the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act. National program models draw on best practices from entities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and housing initiatives influenced by laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act. Signature events and annual drives align with civic dates observed by municipalities including Mayor's office initiatives in cities like Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

Organizational Structure and Funding

The organization operates as a federated network comprising national offices and hundreds of local affiliates in states from California to New York to Texas. Its governance typically involves a board of directors with trustees drawn from philanthropic circles familiar with institutions like the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and executives with nonprofit management experience similar to leaders at American Red Cross and Meals on Wheels America. Funding streams combine corporate sponsorships (e.g., Bank of America, Wells Fargo), foundation grants (e.g., Kresge Foundation), government grants administered by entities like the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and individual donations coordinated through platforms used by Charity Navigator-ranked organizations. Fiscal operations include in-kind donations of materials from manufacturers such as Sherwin-Williams and contractor partnerships modeled on procurement practices used by Habitat for Humanity International affiliates.

Key Initiatives and Impact

Key initiatives include large-scale neighborhood revitalization campaigns, disaster recovery programs, veterans housing repairs, and accessibility projects for older adults—efforts comparable in scope to programs run by Catholic Charities USA, Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity International. Impact assessments reference metrics familiar to researchers at Urban Institute and Brookings Institution studies on housing stability, with outcomes measured in units repaired, volunteer hours logged, and reductions in fall-related injuries consistent with findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notable campaigns have targeted areas recovering from events such as Superstorm Sandy and urban neighborhoods affected by foreclosure crises studied by the Federal Reserve Bank and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Evaluations often cite cross-sector benefits including improved public health, increased property values noted by local municipal planning departments, and enhanced community resilience analyzed in reports by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Partnerships and Volunteerism

Volunteer mobilization is central, drawing service members, trade professionals, corporate volunteer teams, and civic groups such as Rotary International, Kiwanis International, Boy Scouts of America, and college chapters affiliated with Service Learning programs. Strategic partnerships include collaborations with building suppliers like Home Depot Foundation and professional associations such as the American Institute of Architects for design assistance and the National Association of Home Builders for construction standards. Cross-sector alliances extend to public agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, state housing finance agencies, and local housing authorities, as well as philanthropic partners exemplified by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for health-related project design. High-profile volunteer events bring together corporate leaders, elected officials from bodies like the United States Congress and state legislatures, and civic organizations similar to those that support national service initiatives.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States