Rebuilding Together Sacramento addresses of home affordability, safety and efficiency. This is accomplished through home repairs and modifications performed by volunteers.

Preserving Affordable Housing

Rebuilding Together is responding to a crisis in our country - an aging affordable housing stock and the growing number of people who, because of age, disability, or lack of resources, live in dilapidated or inaccessible housing.  The correlation between household income and housing needs is undeniable, especially for lower income homeowners.

It is estimated that 22% of Americans are “shelter” poor, meaning they can not afford basic necessities after paying for housing and are choosing between vital necessities, such as food or medicine, or a roof that does not leak. There are 5.5 million American homeowners who are not only low-income but also elderly - and half of them spend more than 40 percent of their income on housing needs - even as their homes crumble around them. Often times, people cannot afford to repair faulty appliances or electrical systems, causing additional safety concerns. Rebuilding Together has repaired homes that are heated with stoves - a costly and extremely dangerous solution.

Sacramento, once a leader in producing affordable housing, is now experiencing the burden of an aging housing stock and the rising cost of living. 57% of the housing stock is over 30 years old and over 76,000 homes are considered substandard. The median priced home is only affordable to 8% of the Sacramento population.

Homeownership and equity offer a valuable asset in terms of the potential for older adults, particularly those who are low-income, to age in place. People who own their own home are less likely to be uprooted due to rent increases or residential management changes. Maintaining, repairing or retrofitting their homes with safety and accessibility features is a cost-effective alternative to relocation, as well preserving our local housing stock.

Rebuilding Together addresses those issues by performing repairs on homes that improve safety, efficiency and value.

Health and Safety

The number of older adults, the fastest growing segment of the Sacramento area population, is expected to increase at a disproportionately high rate over the next 40 years when compared to other age groups.

Unfortunately as people age, their home is no longer suitable for mobility resulting in a significant number of falls. One in three persons 65 and older falls every year and 50% of those falls occurred in the home. In 2004, fall-related injuries among Californians age 60 and older required almost 80,000 hospitalizations with a mean cost of over $40,000 per hospitalization.

Modifying a home with safety and accessibility features is a cost-effective alternative to falls or relocation.

There are great concerns among service providers and policy makers about the region's ability to meet the housing needs of an aging population. There are a wide range of housing options necessary to meet the demand of the senior population which includes a broad spectrum of residential options.

Rebuilding Together addresses one of the major and most cost effective and desired options - "aging in place" or remaining in one's own home as long as possible. Accessibility modifications such as wheelchair ramps and grab bars can decrease falls in the home by 50%.

Environmental

In addition to homes in disrepair, older homes are typically inefficient due to old appliances, non-drought resistant landscaping and an excess of trash. Low-income households spend an average 14% of their income on energy, versus 3.5% in most other households.

Rebuilding Together addresses those issues by incorporating "green" activities into the home repair jobs. We partner with SMUD, our local utility company, to perform weatherization audits and improvements on the homes.  Our job captains incorporate other energy saving repairs into their work scope including, but are not limited to:

• Smart Land Use: drought resistant landscaping and trash removal
• Water Conservation: Install water conserving appliances and fixtures
• Energy Efficiency: Install ENERGY STAR rated appliances and incandescent light bulbs with CFL's.