In April, volunteers rebuilt the kitchen and bathroom floors in the home of David Jackson and his brother. David lost a leg to diabetes in 2016 and, although currently restricted to a wheelchair, is learning to walk with a prosthesis. Their home is a shotgun house which causes problems with movement. Water damage caused their floors to collapse. With help from the Rebuilding Together team, renovations have made their home safer, more comfortable, and a place where they can thrive.

Rebuilding Together Phoenix provided critical repairs to the home of 101 year old Beatriz. Through their services, Rebuilding Together has repaired and restored countless homes and community centers in Arizona, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to safely live in their home.

In 1965, 4-year Air Force veteran, Roy Obana, moved into his home in Redwood City, CA. The small 2-bedroom house just slightly over 1,000 square feet was perfect for the single veteran starting his life. As time went on, Roy made improvements to his home and kept busy with its maintenance. Now, at the age of 87, Roy has started feeling the effects of aging and illness, currently living with emphysema and severe arthritis causing him mobility issues.

Since his decline from emphysema started 10 years ago, Roy has watched his once immaculate home deteriorate around him. The 70-year-old house felt the neglect of a homeowner no longer able to care for it. The roof was leaking and the gutters were old and no longer functioning, never being replaced in the more than 50 years Roy has owned the home. The exterior paint was peeling and tested positive for lead. The original electrical system was giving out and needed to be upgraded. All the windows needed to be replaced. There was no ventilation in the bathroom or kitchen. There were no smoke alarms, CO2 detectors, or fire extinguishers in the home. And, both the front and back yards needed some landscaping work.

A neighbor referred Roy to Rebuilding Together and the organization upgraded the electrical throughout the home, replaced windows, remediated the mold and painted the home, they replaced the roof and gutters, remodeled the bathroom, installed smoke and CO2 alarms and performed some landscaping work.

Nancy lost her husband, an army veteran, in June 2016. Together they shared their home for 30 years. They were active in the community and volunteered by providing services to those who were homeless. Both Nancy and her son have disabilities, making living and moving in their home difficult. Nancy has a hard time walking which made her bathroom difficult to navigate. Rebuilding Together replaced a wall, put in a higher toilet, installed new cabinets, an accessible shower, and grab bars to ensure Nancy can now safely get around her bathroom.

Rebuilding Together San Francisco came together to work on the Florence Fang Asian Community Garden! This is a community garden for all San Franciscans in the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood. Since being established in 2014, it has become one of the city’s largest urban farms. This community garden brings together a network of community groups around policy issues of environmental sustainability, cultural diversity, and healthy living activities.

After Victoria Moala learned she had multiple sclerosis, she confessed to her grandfather that she felt useless. He told her, “Maybe you’re not one hundred percent anymore, but there’s still life in you.”

That was the way he looked at the world. He believed in an inherent value in everything. When something broke, Victoria’s grandfather wouldn’t throw it out. He’d find a way to repair it so it could still be useful.

Home had always been a safe haven for the Moala family. Four generations lived in the San Mateo, California, house that Victoria’s grandfather purchased after emigrating from the Pacific Islands in the 1950s. The family was together in a home they loved.

But over the decades, the house wore down. Though her grandfather would fix what he could, he refused to spend money on repairs. His skills alone couldn’t keep up. Eventually, the hot water in the kitchen stopped working, and only lasted a few minutes in the bathroom. To wash dishes, the family boiled pots of water. “My grandfather’s attitude was to use it as it is,” Victoria said. “So we all adjusted to the lifestyle.”

It wasn’t just time and use that caused their house to fall into disrepair. “I tell people my grandfather loved to collect things,” Victoria said. “But really, he was a hoarder. There was stuff piled everywhere and he was stubborn about keeping it. We’d load junk into garbage bags and he’d make us put it back.”

As the house wore down, the family wore down too. The deterioration was especially difficult for Victoria, who had to use a wheelchair because of her multiple sclerosis. The house wasn’t built for wheelchair accessibility. With all the clutter, she couldn’t navigate whole areas of her home.

“I couldn’t give my kids baths and I couldn’t cook for them. My mom had to do it for me. We didn’t have a ramp, so I couldn’t leave the house without someone’s help.”

Just before Victoria’s grandfather died in 2013, he finally gave his blessing for his family to fix up the house. “I knew we couldn’t do it alone,” she said. “Then I saw a listing for Rebuilding Together in the Pennysaver, and I decided to apply.”

“When my family found out we were approved, we screamed at the top of our lungs. The people at Rebuilding Together Peninsula were so nonchalant when they called us. Meanwhile, we’d been on the edge of our seats, praying every day.”

Victoria admits that she was nervous when Rebuilding Together Peninsula came to look at her house.

“It’s hard to let people into your home and reveal how you’ve lived. My house was in really bad condition, but that’s why I applied. Knowing how much I needed help is what made it easy for me to open the door and let them in. The Rebuilding Together crew made me a priority so I could be safe in my own home.”

Today, Victoria says life is more manageable. “I was dependent. Now I’m independent. And I know anything is possible.”

Because of the repairs, it’s easier for Victoria to get to San Francisco State University, where she studies microbiology and plans to research cures for diseases like hers.

“I think back over my grandfather’s life and how much he collected. When the Rebuilding Together crew came through, they removed so much of him. At the same time, it felt good for all of those things to go. It was bittersweet. Now, it’s time for my family to live.”

Volunteers joined Sherrelwood Elementary and Rebuilding Together Metro Denver for a “Safety, Education and Beautification Day”, during which volunteers convened en masse at Sherrelwood to paint, refurbish the playground, and improve the landscaping, in addition to distributing fire extinguishers to all families attending and providing important talks about fire safety.

Our partners in the community have joined together to help elevate this work project to a Community Neighborhood Block Party Event, during which all the Sherrelwood Elementary families and surrounding neighborhood could attend and enjoy the festivities.

This Block Party Event included food, education, interactive & field games for children, face painting and a visit from our local Firefighters! The Buffalo Soldiers mounted unit history talk and demonstration and sign-up information for the Imagination Library, providing a free book for children 0-5 every month, also joined in on the event.

Volunteers, joining with teachers and staff of Sherrelwood Elementary, painted multiple murals inside and outside the school, scrubbed and painted playground equipment, including hopscotch, four square, and tetherball courts, designed a buddy bench to help kids make friends, and improved the school grounds to be both beautiful and drought-resistant!

Rebuilding Together volunteers help out in all areas of the community. In the words of one Hartford homeowner who received a new ramp, "Words cannot express how thankful I am for your organization. You have made my life so much easier. The ramp has allowed me to walk from my back porch to the driveway with the confidence and support that I need."

Wintertime is a tough time for our neighbors in need. A broken window or the lack of a working furnace can significantly impact the quality of life for low-income families and individuals during the winter.

Harold M. is one such homeowner. Harold grew up in a small town in Illinois. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War, and then lived and worked in Boston for over 30 years. He has been living in Alexandria with his wife for the past 13 years.

Harold and his wife had no heating or air conditioning in their Alexandria home, and during the wintertime they were cold and very uncomfortable. They had to use floor heaters as a temporary solution. Repairs to their heating system would normally cost about six or seven thousand dollars. After they completed our application form, local contractors fixed their heating system, free of charge to them.

"Your contractors did fantastic work," said Harold. "They were professional, pleasant, and respectful. They were just fantastic. And once they finished, everything worked perfectly. Ever since they left, we haven't had any problems. We couldn't be happier.

Riding down his newly paved sidewalk in his used and battered wheelchair, Armondo left his home and waved to his neighbors for the first time in 2 1/2 years Friday afternoon.

“I don’t even know if they knew I lived here,” the 79-year-old man said.

Thanks to Rebuilding Together North Central Florida, a leading home repair non-profit organization founded in Alachua, Armondo is now able to leave his home to do everyday tasks.

To do so, he shuffles his feet to make it up and down the ramp, smiling the whole time.

“It is 10 times better than I thought it would be,” the arthritic and retired librarian said.

Dependent on his wheelchair, Valesco-Farnes was only able to roll on flat surfaces. His front yard was sandy and extremely uneven. “It was not safe for me,” he said. “I didn’t ask people to help because I like to do things on my own. I do things by myself.”

With no family of his own and a strong desire to be independent, Valesco-Farnes stayed indoors—not visiting a doctor for over two years. For executive director of Rebuilding Together Miami, R.D. Bonner, stories like these are typical for Rebuilding Together. “One of our goals is to meet mobility needs,” Bonner said.

Rebuilding Together also brings volunteers and communities together to improve the homes and lives of neighbors in need. For Bonner, that meant finding a team and funding to create a sidewalk that stretches from Valesco-Farnes’ door to the street.

Together, our team of volunteers helped Ms. Glenda have a safer and more comfortable home. She has owned and lived in her home since 1999, and has been an in-home daycare provider for most of her life. Ms. Glenda loves to take care of children! She has been working as a respite provider for foster children for the past 25 years. She also takes care of her three great-nieces and nephews. There are always children of all ages staying with her in her home and Rebuilding Together was able to make it a better environment.

“All of the neighbors we work with qualify for the program because they live in the communities we selected and meet the maximum income requirements,” said Wanda Ramirez, Executive Director for Rebuilding Together. “And all of them live in the homes they own.”

A significant number of the neighbors they help are senior citizens who lack the resources to hire contractors. What may start out as a minor repair turns into a major one, which can impact their quality of life.

One of the residents they’re helping is, Emma. She is an 80-year-old widow who has lived in her home for decades with her cat, Neely. Volunteers helped fix her leaking toilet, installed a tub bench, replaced the bathroom vanity, replaced the kitchen stove and removed the carpet from her hallway and stairs.

More than a hundred volunteers with construction skills spent their day improving homes in an Indianapolis neighborhood of Twin Aires.

The volunteers did everything from changing out cabinets and replacing light fixtures to putting in new floors and kitchen sinks.

One volunteer shared the importance of this work; “I came from one of these communities and I know a lot of people are underprivileged and can't afford to pay for an electrician, plumber, you know, carpenters, especially all on the same day. It can be pretty tough for people at times.”

Rebuilding Together Des Moines has served the Des Moines area since 1995 and has repaired over 2,000 homes. A group of volunteers recently went to help a woman named Lois take down an old and structurally unsound garage and deck. Along with bringing down the garage, our volunteer team members assisted Lois with some necessary yardwork. We pulled weeds, trimmed down vines and shrubs, mowed the lawn and removed dead branches and debris from the trees in her yard. It was an exciting afternoon full of teamwork, jokes and plenty of hard work.

The Rebuilding Together team in Kansas has been busy! Recently, a senior couple in Liberty needed some necessary outdoor work. Volunteers were able to clear out yard overgrowth, do some necessary tree trimming and replace the window sills. They also reattached gutters, filled a hold in the backyard and removed an old stump.

Floyd lived in a home for 18 years in New Orleans. Floyd had multiple surgeries and lost a limb. Through these surgeries he wasn’t able to keep up with repairs on his home. Volunteers with Rebuilding Together were able to install a wheelchair ramp for the home to increase accessibility and make their home a safer place.

Our volunteers in Maryland recently worked on 6 homes that needed major repairs. Some repairs included replacing rotting outdoor stairs, fence repair, replacing drywall, taking out carpet to replace with hard flooring, and much more. In addition to these 6 homes, we had a group of volunteers completing minor home repairs to anyone in the community who asked for it. These repairs included installing carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, putting up address markers, installing fire extinguishers, extending downspouts, and much more. All of these repairs were so that the community as a whole can be safer and healthier.

We also had a group of volunteers working outside all day at the Willow Ave Park and Garden working on Community Impact Projects. These projects were aimed to beautify the community as an extraction of the homes. The volunteers weeded, built garden beds, hung a projector screen, and much more!

When he was young, Mr. Walters and his family moved from Jamaica with the hopes and dreams of making their new home in Boston. Growing up in Dorchester, he loved the idea of having the local elementary school within walking distance and it was an important consideration when thinking of moving since he was a parent of three school aged daughters. He wanted to raise his children in a quiet neighborhood that was filled with other young families and where his children could play safely in the streets. He did not have to travel far to find the home where he wanted to raise children. Mr. Walters purchased his home from his parents in 2004, the home where he grew up.

In 2008 when the economy fell into recession, Mr. Walters was laid off from his career job as an engineer. This soon left his family financially insecure. Trying to support and maintain a stable environment for his kids, Mr. Walters took on necessary work to pay the bills. He now works long hours as a sales representative in order to meet his expenses. Recently he became a single parent, and his full work schedule and tight budget has not afforded him the time or the finances keep up with critical house repairs.

When Mr. Walters discovered his application was accepted, he felt this opportunity was his higher power working in mysterious ways. Grateful for Rebuilding Together Boston and the volunteers who will serve on National Rebuilding Day, Mr. Walters hopes he can turn his attention towards helping support his children through school. His three daughters are now teenagers and one is headed off to college. He has heard such great things about Rebuilding Together and feels he has won something more valuable than a lottery ticket.

Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan did necessary home repairs on neighbor Darlene’s home in Madison Heights. We had a productive and fun day working together on the cherished home. Overall, we successfully landscaped the front and back yards, cleaned the walls and ceiling in the kitchen, replaced the bathroom floor, vanity, and mirror, repaired the shed, replaced the kitchen fan and light, and added an address plaque. We are thrilled with the success of this project!

Our incredible Ramp Team recently completed their 49th project at a Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) home that provides transitional housing for veterans. MACV provides comprehensive program and supportive services to homeless veterans, including housing, employment and legal services.

Improving the accessibility of MACV homes is critical to ensuring that they can serve all veterans in our community. The ramp our volunteers constructed will ensure the home is accessible for veterans living with a disability. We are extremely grateful to the Ramp Team for all of their hard work over the years, and we are looking forward to celebrating the 50th ramp project!

For 42 years, Euple Clark has had the same phone number. It's a fact she states proudly as she explains the good times her home has seen. In 1972, Euple and her husband George packed up their belongings and five rambunctious boys and set off from Mississippi for St. Louis. They settled into a nice two-bedroom home that, although tight, quickly became a loving home.

Three generations of Clarks have grown up in that house, and to Euple, it's become more than a residence. It's a foundation upon which she built a legacy. “When we all sat around the table, those are fond memories.” Every room recalls moments that she doesn't want her boys to forget.

On Rebuilding Day, paint, new floors, updated plumbing and other much-needed fixes gave Euple more than a safe and comfortable home. With the help of her youngest son, George Jr., the volunteers restored the warmth that defined the Clark household. “They brought life back to the house,” said Euple, “and I thank God for that.”

Through the help of volunteers, Rebuilding Together Yellowstone County provided door repairs for two neighbors in November. We are proud to have served Roberta, a senior resident in Billings, and Jerry, a senior veteran in Worden. These repairs have improved the safety and warmth of their homes.

A tremendous amount of work was done at the long-term recovery warehouse including replacing some sidewalk! Thanks to the volunteers from Bergan Catholic High School for their day of service!

Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada revitalized four homes and repaired the Boyd Boys and Girls Club in the Pittman neighborhood. We are excited to have the opportunity to return to the Pittman neighborhood this fall as we continue our revitalization work!

Volunteers with Rebuilding Together in New Jersey have made an incredible impact on their community. In the words of one neighbor, “I cannot thank you enough for all the work that you provided. Without your organization, I would neer have been able to make the necessary repairs and improvements to my home.”

Our New Mexico team works hard on rebuilding projects all year! During the Spring and Summer a home is renovated on a weekend each month. On Fridays and Saturdays in the summer we paint several homes and during the winter we tackle interior repair on homes in our community.

Rebuilding Together renovated the Sarah Powell Huntington House, a homeless shelter for formerly incarcerated women and their children managed by the Women's Prison Association - WPA. Rebuilding Together brought together volunteers to provide critical repairs and renovations to the Sarah Powell Huntington House. Repairs included mold abatement, upgrades to the child care floor, repainting of rooms and hallways, upgrades to the shared outdoors space and more.

A group helped Charlotte neighbor Beaulah with much-needed maintenance and repairs. Beaulah could not afford to have mold removed, or to heat her home, for years until the nonprofit, Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte, stepped in to assist her.

Rebuilding Together takes a community approach by repairing homes in one neighborhood before moving on to another area.

They're trying to help homeowners like Beaulah stay in their homes and be proud of it. “To hear Beaulah talk about what this has done for her, I know what it's going to do for her,” Beth Morrison, executive director of Rebuilding Together Charlotte said.

Women are leading the effort to renovate the homes of other women for Rebuilding Together OKC's annual “She Builds” event. Heather Crews' home had not seen much improvement since she moved in with her daughter Ryleigh and their two dogs eight years ago.

She said, “We always had sheets covering the couch. Number one, because of the dogs. Number two, because they were ugly.” The single mom just has not had much time or money to make repairs, especially since her own mother died last year. Then a childhood friend nominated her for Rebuilding Together OKC's She Builds project.

Over the course of a week, more than 240 volunteers gave Heather's home a complete renovation, with women taking the lead. Rebuilding Together Oklahoma City executive director John Bracken said, “I look at their faces and they said, ‘I can do this! I don’t have to rely on somebody else,’ and we’re hopeful that that same power comes through to Heather.”

Heather added, “They did it all, and I had a woman teach me how to use a saw even, and that was awesome.” This project is proof that empowerment works. Beyond the fresh coat of paint, each room inside has its own new character. “It’s so pretty!” Heather exclaimed as she entered one room after another. The building is also better for Heather and Ryleigh's health. “They took the mold wall out,” Heather said at her bedroom closet. “That was big.”

Additionally, keepsakes like Heather’s grandmother’s old rocking chair are front and center. Heather explained, “My grandma passed away the day I found out I was pregnant with Ryleigh, so it’s kind of super special that we got to keep that in here.” Heather said she feels her mom's spirit stronger now than she has in months. “This is so her,” Heather said. “It’s so Mom. She would love this.”

Heather’s new home now marks the start of a new chapter.

“Many older Ohioans live on fixed incomes and find just maintaining a home to be a challenge, let alone making improvements,” said Rachel Jamison program director for Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio.

“It can be really difficult to prioritize over basic needs like food, medication, and other necessities,” Jamison said.

Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio executive director, Pam Schullerman, recalled a woman who routinely pulled herself up from the toilet using a doorknob, and others who took sponge baths and limited their movement to a small portion of the house to avoid going upstairs.

Rebuilding Together helps make improvements and repairs to help residents live safely at home.

Many of us take a safe entry in and out of our homes for granted but for Ms. H, falling on her way in and out of her home was a constant concern. She had fallen and hurt herself previously, the stairs needed repairs and the distance from the stairs to the sidewalk was a tripping hazard. A simple fall for her could mean a broken back, neck, and wrist. Rebuilding Together staff and volunteers immediately responded and replaced the front steps and placed pavers to the sidewalk so she could walk steadily without the fear of falling. Asking for help was a hard and humbling experience for Ms. H but she is glad she did. The new stairs, walkway and the bathroom grab bars gave Ms. H peace of mind.

James and Anne are pillars of their Haddington neighborhood. They have owned their Robinson Street home for 44 years and care for their 12-year-old grandson. James has mobility issues due to arthritis and Anne suffers from COPD.

Over the years, their home had experienced significant wear and tear. Rebuilders were able to install handrails, remove damaged tile, instal CO detectors, and make occupational therapy assessments and accommodations. James commented that, “The new walk-in shower and grab bars have made bathing easier for my wife. And the flooring in my bedroom and bathroom have helped my ability to walk around."

Rebuilding Together joined to restore Thistle Farms, a sanctuary helping women survivors of abuse, addiction, trafficking and prostitution by providing them with a safe place to live, counseling, job training and other basic life skills and services. This event launched Rebuilding Together’s ‘She Builds’ initiative, a holistic approach to empowering women to transform their communities though volunteer events for and by women.

Margaret had been waiting on assistance to fix her rotting back porch. This week, the job finally got done thanks to a group of young people who made it their mission to help Bryan residents in need.

"I'd been trying and trying to get [something] done for two years," Margaret said. "The wood was so rotten I was afraid everything was going to come down." Margaret and fellow resident Jeanette were able to receive critical repairs from volunteers with Rebuilding Together.

Bryan resident Jeanette said she was glad for the work on her home. Volunteers worked on building her a small front porch and backyard patio so she could have protected spaces outside for her grandchildren to play.

"They always do good work, and I try to tell other people about it." Margaret said. "They're doing a good job, and they've only been here a week."

Mr. S proudly served in the US Marine Corps in Vietnam and then spent 40 years working for the Washington Post. His wife was employed by the General Services Administration and they enjoyed being part of their community. Ten years ago Mrs. S started living with a disability and Mr. S retired to become her full-time care-giver. He built a wheelchair ramp so he could bring her home from rehab and then safely get her out of the house to go to doctor’s appointments. He was grateful that he could bring her home and take care of her so she didn’t have to live in a nursing home but over the years as his health declined he could no longer keep up with home repairs and the ramp had deteriorated and become unsafe. Volunteers with Rebuilding Together were able to come and repair this ramp, as well as fix the bathroom floor, install grab bars, and improve the lighting, enabling Mr. and Mrs. S thrive safely in their home for many years to come.

With every blade of grass cut and every weed pulled, neighbor Eva feels like she's getting a piece of herself back.

“Here I am, 74, and all this is getting restored,” Eva said. “And I am so blessed.”

Eva and her family are the only people to have ever lived in the 18th Avenue home since it was built in 1977. But her son is all grown up and has since moved out. Her husband died in 2009. As Ridley's health declined, so did her home. But despite the changes to her life and to the neighborhood, Eva is determined to stay.

“The homeowners, they try to buy us out. They want us to sell,” Eva explained. “I'm staying put for the time being.”

Dozens of volunteers with Rebuilding Together were able to work on much needed repairs outside and inside Eva's home to make it safe for her to live on her own.

What an incredible transformation of a neighbor’s home in the Oshkosh area! The Rebuilding Together team was able to replace a toilet that hadn’t been functional in years, scrape and repaint the house, clean gutters, landscape, and replace the flooring in two rooms.

Merrill had always felt unsettled. She’d spent her childhood moving around the country with her family. As an adult, all she wanted was the stability of a place to call home. The trouble was, Merrill was house hunting in the 1970s, when most real estate companies and banks wouldn’t sell property to an unmarried woman.

Unconventional and undaunted, Merrill decided to find a home on her own. She canvassed the rolling streets of San Francisco, knocking on doors, hoping to find someone who would sell their house to a young single woman. Eventually, she met a man who wanted to move, and talked him into letting her buy his house with a private mortgage. She was finally home.

For more than 40 years, Merrill has lived in her house nestled in the San Francisco hills. She’s achieved the stability she wanted so badly earlier in her life. Age hasn’t made her any less fiercely independent. Merrill is still proud of what she accomplished in her youth. When she shows you around her home, she’s sure to tell you, “I did this. I got myself this place.”

Because Merrill has a debilitating health issue and lives on a fixed income, it’s been difficult for her to keep up with home maintenance and repairs. With the real estate market so hot in San Francisco, Merrill could get a lot of money for her house.

Just because her house has a high value, doesn’t mean she can leave it. The money Merrill could get from selling her home would only pay for a few years of senior housing. Once that money ran out, she’d have nowhere to live.

Homeowners who hear “sell now while the price is high” are being told to trade stability for a short-term payoff. Especially when you’re older, you may not want to leave your community, your neighbors and your friends.

Money isn’t a reason to uproot a life.

“San Francisco is a tough city to love these days,” said Karen Nemsick, executive director of Rebuilding Together San Francisco. “There’s a lot of growth with too little regard for the people who lived here before the boom. If long-time homeowners are forced out of their current homes, most will have to leave the city.”

It’s clear San Francisco needs more affordable housing. Only 10 percent of San Franciscans can afford to buy a single-family home in the city, and rental costs are among the highest in the country. Though the government is trying to solve the city’s housing crisis, new development alone can’t keep up with demand.

“Along with new housing, we also need to repair the homes of long-term homeowners. It’s not either or. We must do both,” Karen said. “Existing housing is the most affordable housing because it’s much cheaper to repair than it is to build something new. That’s why our work is so important right here, right now.”

Rebuilding Together San Francisco focuses on making critical repairs so people can keep living in their homes and stay in the city. In Merrill’s home, Rebuilding Together replaced rotted front steps, installed safety handrails, removed a destructive ivy infestation, fixed collapsing exterior walls and made several other critical safety repairs.

Thinking about all the changes, Merrill said, “My house is much fresher and cleaner, not to mention much more functional. If I need to financially, I’m now in a position to acquire a roommate. More than one person may benefit from the renovations.”

Uvernia, 86, lives with her daughter Marilyn, 66, in their home located in the Central District of Seattle. Marilyn purchased the home, which was built in 1902, almost 40 years ago together with her sister. Her sister sadly passed away due to cancer back in 1998.

Now Uvernia’s daughter cares for and keeps her company, along with other family members and neighbors that live in the area. Even though the family had some though times in the last years, including the death of Marilyn’s daughter and herself being in a car accident, the McCoy’s continue to be a vibrant part of their neighborhood.

Uvernia is known as Gran-Gran and keeps an eye on everything and everyone. The repairs being done by Rebuilding Together are important to maintain a safe and healthy home for Uvernia and Marylin.

Jane Meyers is a born and raised New Orleanian, having grown up in the B.W. Cooper Housing Development, or Calliope Projects. She’s raised five children in the city, and has 10 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren, most still living in New Orleans. One of her grandsons and his daughter live on the other side of the Jane’s Bywater double shotgun, along with their Doberman Sasha, who according to Jane, “rules the whole house.”

An employee of Charity Hospital for over 25 years, Jane moved from department to department before having a brain surgery that forced to her stop working. Now that she’s retired and on a limited income, she needs Rebuilding Together’s help to complete repairs that allow her to continue living safely in her home. A fresh coat of paint is crucial as the old lead paint flakes and chips off the aging home, posing a threat to her young great granddaughter living there. Siding replacement throughout the house and a new living room window will help protect the family from the elements. Small accessibility additions like handrails and grab bars in the bathrooms will additionally help Jane as she’s been experiencing hip pain and finds it harder to get around.

Jane says she can’t wait for repairs to be finished so she can show off her home! An active member of Broadway Mission Baptist Church, she’s most excited to have her friends, fellow church members, and family over for gatherings. Her favorite thing to do in New Orleans is take her annual steamboat trip on the river for her birthday, and once repairs are finished she’ll be able to continue the party from the boat to her home.

Monica spends most of her time working at an assisted living facility. She loves her community and wants to do what she can to be a part of the revitalization process. The zip code where Monica lives is one of the ones hardest hit during the recent financial crisis and most homes are boarded up but that doesn’t stop her from enjoying her community and neighbors. Monica likes spending time working in her garden. Most of her income is put towards putting her two sons through school and secure a better future for them. Monica’s husband passed in 2008, leaving her solely in charge of raising their children. She also lost her mother, who used to help around, in 2014 making things even more difficult for her. Monica tries to repair and maintain her home as much as she can on her own but need support from Rebuilding Together to perform additional needed work.

Bryan and Kelly, originally from Ohio, have lived in their home for five years but take their role as newcomers seriously by regularly organizing neighborhood litter cleanups and attending the Just Us Neighbors Association meetings. Before moving to Georgia the couple moved their family of eight (their children are ages 1, 3, 5, 8, 11, 13, 15, and 17) to Haiti where they spent 2.5 years as missionaries, building and overseeing the operations of schools. Kelly is a full-time mom and homeschools her children. Their eldest sons are dual-enrolled at a local college and are apprentices in welding. The boys have gotten to know their neighbors by starting a small yard work business.

The family takes pride in where they live and contribute to the community by maintaining the two triangular parks (called I and II) and even restored the paint on the eternal gas light flame dedicated to first neighborhood association president and civil rights activist, Margaret Davis Bowen. To make ends meet Bryan works full-time as a facilities manager at a local school and another part-time job. When Kelly was asked if there is anything she likes to do for fun she chuckled and shook her head, explaining she has “very little time and very little money.” Rebuilding Together volunteers are helping the family by installing durable flooring, installing smoker and CO2 alarms, removing peeling paint, reducing moisture problems and weatherizing the home to reduce heating and cooling costs.

Mother and daughter, Edna and Shanee are native to Nashville and have lived in their current home for over 20 years, first as renters, then as owners when they were able to purchase it in 2003. Now retired, Edna worked over 20 years as a machine operator, and her daughter, Shanee, is a former United States postal worker. Both mother and daughter have recently been battling health issues. Edna suffers from Lupus, dementia, and has had several strokes that make mobility a challenge. Shanee was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis about ten years ago and now depends on a wheelchair for mobility.

Both are on fixed incomes and need drastic changes to their home now that Shanee has become the primary caregiver for Edna. Rebuilding Together worked with them to reconfigure and remodel their home to suit their current needs. An entire remodel of their kitchen and bathroom was among the most pressing of issues. The kitchen cabinets, countertops, stove and sink all needed to be reconfigured to allow Shanee access to cook and clean. Electrical plugs, glasses and other household items needed to be within Shanee’s reach. Likewise, modifications in the bathroom were necessary. The old tub and shower unit needed to be replaced with a wheelchair accessible shower. A comfort height elongated toilet bowl was needed to create an easier mount and dismount. The cabinet and sink area had to be modified to allow for wheelchair access. Grab bars along the bathroom entrance, within the shower and alongside the toilet were installed to assist with mobility.

Much of the remodeling activities were performed by skilled trades professionals but volunteers also stepped in to perform minor landscaping projects, including tree stump, brush and yard waste removal. They also caulked exterior windows and doors, performed small weatherization tasks and other small repairs to make the home safer.

Mr. Melvin, a veteran with a disability lives in his home with his son and grandson. He has been confined to a motorized wheelchair for several years as a result of severe muscular degeneration associated with medical issues from his time in Vietnam. Mr. Melvin had not been able to utilize the bathroom facilities in his small home. He had to rely on a portable toilet in his bedroom and regular sponge baths provided by his caregiver. Rebuilding Together was able to retrofit his bathroom to allow him to access it with his wheelchair and regain some independence. Volunteers also replaced siding and provided him with other repairs to make the home safer for years to come.

In 2007 at the age of 19, Zahid joined the United States Marine Corps. While stationed in Japan he was deployed to South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand. In 2010, while stationed in Camp Lejeune, NC, he was deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan. After four and a half years of active service Zahid was discharged with the rank of Lance Corporal.

Since returning to civilian life Zahid, his wife Stephanie and their young son have enjoyed living in Arizona. Zahid is working to obtain an associate’s degree in fire science from Phoenix College. This first step will help move him forward toward the goal of becoming a fire investigator. Stephanie works in the hospitality industry and is exploring opportunities to further her career.

Zahid grew up sharing a bedroom with his siblings, often sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag. Through a land donation, Rebuilding Together was able to provide Zahid and his young family with a brand new, furnished modular home. He looks forward to his son having a bedroom of his own.