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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 older adults, disabled, living with children or veterans.
- While we consider applications from all Philadelphia homeowners, we help only a limited number of homeowners outside designated Block Build areas throughout the year. Download the application here. You can help bring RTP to your neighborhood for a Block Build by encouraging your neighbors to complete applications as well. Call 215-568-5044 to request additional applications to distribute, or have your neighbors call to request their own application.
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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. |
2010-11 HOMEOWNER STATISTICS
RTP volunteers helped 87 homeowners with the following characteristics:
- 100% have a low, very low, or extremely low annual income
- 56% are women who are the sole provider for their household
- 39% are 65 years old, or older
- 35% have children under 18 living with them (78 children total)
- 29% live alone
- 18% have a physical disability or medical hardship
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