 WHAT WE DO |
| WHO WE ARE |
| HOW YOU CAN HELP |
"Being part of the Rebuilding Together program helps me believe that there is
more good than bad in the world."
Homeowner Carol Belton
RESOURCE GUIDE
Because of our limited resources, RTP is not able to help all of the homeowners that apply for our program each year. This Resource Guide has contact information for other local agencies that may be able to help. |
Read about a few of our homeowners |
|
Homeowners
“Never did I imagine that I would need the help and charity of my neighborhood to survive…
I thank God for guiding me to [RTP]… that volunteers would
bring such a positive, joyous spirit to my house and myself.”
Homeowner Sylvia Wilford
The U.S. census indicates that there are more than 50,000 low-income homeowners in Philadelphia. Many live in homes that were built more than 70 years ago. Simple repair problems (left unattended due to lack of resources) escalate into larger problems that expose homeowners and their families to health and safety risks.
CRITERIA
- All applicants must be homeowners living in their own homes.
- All applicants must be low-income, according to HUD standards.
- Priority is given to homeowners who are elderly or disabled.
- While we consider applications from all geographic areas of Philadelphia County and Montgomery County for a limited number of projects throughout the year, our primary areas of focus are discrete neighborhoods in Southwest Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, and Norristown (19401). Our focus for spring 2009 will be in West Shore (19143) and Germantown (19144). Download the application here.
|
HOW IT WORKS
Through an open application process, hundreds of homeowners are screened by volunteers who:
- Interview applicants to make the final selections.
- Set the scope of repairs.
- Match homeowners with teams of general and skilled volunteers.
- Work in March and April on the identified home repairs.
All repairs are done free of charge to the homeowners. Homeowners and their families fully participate in the repair process, as they are able.
Download an application. |
2008 HOMEOWNER STATISTICS
RTP volunteers helped 66 homeowners with the following characteristics:
- 100% have a low, very low, or extremely low annual income
- 73% are women who are the sole provider for their household
- 56% are 65 years old, or older
- 55% live alone
- 33% have a physical disability or medical hardship
- 27% have children under 18 living with them (39 children total)
|
Through three major Block Builds (1 in North Philadelphia, 1 in West Philadelphia and 1 in South Philadelphia) as well as other projects, RTP volunteers had the following reach: |
|
Homeowners |
Community Facilities |
Parks and Lots |
North Philadelphia |
15 |
2 |
1 |
West Philadelphia |
30 |
2 |
3 |
South Philadelphia |
14 |
1 |
4 |
Montgomery County |
4 |
0 |
0 |
Chester-area |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Germantown/Mt. Airy |
2 |
2 |
0 |
Totals |
66 |
7 |
8 |
|
