Rebuilding Together Montgomery County

Rebuilding Together rehabilitates the houses of low-income homeowners, primarily for the elderly and the disabled, so that they may live in warmth, safety and independence.

Why do we exist?

Rebuilding Together exists to keep low-income families living safely and independently in their own homes, while also preserving the disappearing affordable housing stock in Montgomery County.

The families served through Rebuilding Together have worked hard to own their own home, but need assistance to maintain it. Our average recipients are a family of two living on just over $18,000 a year. In Montgomery County, once the costs of transportation, food, and medical expenses are covered, there simply isn’t anything left for home maintenance and/or repair. Often the home is their only asset, and without Rebuilding Together and its team of volunteers, they are in danger of losing their home and/or remaining in a hazardous situation.

Our work comes in many forms: preventing falls for seniors by installing grab bars and handrails so that they may age-in-place in the home they raised their families; patching a leaking roof and removing debris so that parents can raise healthy children; or building a wheelchair ramp and installing a roll-in shower for someone with a disability, so they may remain independent in their home – all done at no cost to the families served. Life can change in the blink of an eye – for our recipients, Rebuilding Together is there to assist when the home can no longer meet their changing needs.

What have you accomplished?

Since 1990, Rebuilding Together has completed 1,240 homes and nonprofits utilizing the help 35, 495 volunteers and delivering more than $10.75 million in home repairs, all of which is done at no cost to the homeowners we serve.

More importantly, however, there is a person – in most cases, a family – behind these statistics. For the recipients of our program, who often find it difficult to ask for help, the rewards of this program can be life-changing. One homeowner recounts her experience in her own words:

“I am a single mother of three beautiful and beloved daughters. I was diagnosed with lupus four years ago, which changed my life significantly. I was working in a hospital earning a good income before my chronic illness diagnosis. I own a townhouse that I bought while I was employed seven years ago. While I was working full time, I took great pride in our home and we enjoyed working on it to make it a beautiful home. With my illness and the resulting loss of my ability to work full time and reduction in income, I was unable to afford to put money into my house any longer. I had serious plumbing problems I could not fix. I needed painting a few other things done in order to comply with my homeowners association standards, numerous things were broken all around our house, we had electrical problems that were fire hazards,  and I had a serious drainage problem which was allowing water to come into my basement. I was beside myself to know what to do. I applied to Rebuilding Together and was delighted to hear that my application was approved. I was so embarrassed to have to ask for help, and they never made me feel badly about it. They not only did repairs we had asked for – and it was a long list – they also befriended me at a time when my whole life had turned upside down and I was really feeling scared and alone. I can never thank Rebuilding Together enough for everything they did for us.  They bring hope to families in crisis and help them to take care of the only thing they have – their home – and not to lose it.”

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