Safe & Healthy Home Repairs (SHHR) - I am a [Re]Builder

There are 169,015 occupied homes in Washoe County, Nevada. While many of these homes have safe, happy families living in them, some do not. Behind those front doors is a veteran who has lived without hot water for three years, a senior who feels hopeless because they must choose between medication or fixing their heat, or a neighbor who is wheelchair bound and is unable to get outside because of stairs.

With your help, instead a veteran will be able to cook and take a hot shower when the water heater is replaced. A senior’s hope will be restored when a new heater is installed in the middle of winter at no cost to them. A neighbor will be able to enjoy the sunset for the first time in years when a new ramp is built. Please, donate to Rebuilding Together Northern Nevada today to help your neighbors in need.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Rebuilding Together was created around the concept of neighbor helping neighbor. This tradition continues today through Rebuilding Together Northern Nevada’s yearly volunteer days. Every year, over 100 volunteers throughout Northern Nevada come together to perform yard beautification, debris removal, and other home repairs. Most homes are owned by seniors or individuals with disabilities who are long-time community members. Rebuilding Together takes both individual and team volunteers. To learn more, please see our Volunteer Section.

The Community’s Need
Rebuilding Together Northern Nevada (RTNNV) was founded in 2020 with the vision of safe homes and communities for everyone. This vision encompasses the community need RTNNV fights for: safe, healthy, affordable housing. Currently, 71,143 families in Washoe County and Carson City, Nevada, live in inadequate housing (ruraldataportal.org). Many of these homes are without complete plumbing or working kitchens. Low-income homeowners do not have the financial and sometimes physical ability to repair these issues. Instead of repairing a broken toilet, leaking roof, or damaged water heater, they must use their financial resources to purchase food, medication, and utilities. As a result, they continue to live in these unsafe home environments. Prolonged exposure to home health hazards can lead to long-term health issues. In fact, "How Housing Matters'' reports that housing is connected with asthma, depression, sleep disorders, obesity, and cardiovascular health.

Without assistance with these repairs, long-term homeowners will be unable to safely age in place. RTNNV comes alongside struggling community members who cannot afford to fix these serious issues and perform the repairs at zero cost. Homeowners who receive repairs from Rebuilding Together have improved community connection, safety, physical health, mental health, economic security, independence, and ability to age in place, according to a 2020-2021 national study (https://rebuildingtogether.org/our-impact).

How do Home Repairs Help?
The Safe and Healthy Home Repairs Program (SHHR) is RTNNV’s cornerstone program. Through SHHR, local, low-income homeowners receive vital repairs that return their house to a safe and healthy home. These repair services fall into two categories—accessibility and livability. Accessibility services address issues for seniors and individuals with disabilities, including trip and fall prevention, accessibility modifications, and ramp installation. Livability services focus on the health and safety of a home. These can include remediation of lead-based paint or other lead hazards; repair or replacement of essential systems such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and roofs; and installing flooring, smoke and CO2 detectors, and other fixtures. These repairs stabilize the community's affordable housing and keep neighborhoods vibrant by preventing neighborhood blight. Those served through SHHR include low-income seniors (60+), veterans, individuals with disabilities, and families living in Washoe County, Nevada. Home repairs are performed by volunteers, staff, and licensed contractors.

SHHR was developed on a national level by Rebuilding Together. They currently have over 120 affiliates in 39 states. They worked with the National Center for Healthy Housing to create the 25 Safe and Healthy Housing Priorities Checklist that guides its work in every home it assists. According to Rebuilding Together's national study, homeowners who received repairs are nearly three times more likely to be able to afford to age in place comfortably.

Our Goals and Outcomes
In 2021, RTNNV assisted 32 low-income households with home repairs. During 2022, it is predicted that 100 households will be assisted. RTNNV benefits the community through 1. Preserving the current affordable housing stock in Northern Nevada. 2. Enabling long-time Nevada citizens on fixed incomes to age in place. 3. Increasing the housing security of low-income homeowners by alleviating the financial burden of home repair costs. 5. Alleviating health issues caused by unsafe and unhealthy home environments.

Want to Learn More?
For more information or to volunteer, visit https://rebuildingtogethernnv.org/ or email us at rebuilder@rtnnv.org.