Our Vision
Creating a safe, healthy and efficient home for every
person…
Our Mission
Rebuilding Together Oakland brings volunteers and communities
together to improve the homes and lives of homeowners in need by
providing repairs, safety modifications and energy upgrades to
their home so they may live in safety, comfort and
independence. We do this at no cost to the
homeowner.
In these turbulent economic times, our mission is ever more
relevant and important as our clients struggle to maintain their
homes, along with their dignity, when many of the safety net
programs they rely on for food and other assistance have been
eliminated by state and municipal budget cuts.
Dignity: the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or
esteemed. It is what one feels when they own their home. The
home is a place of memories; it is the evidence of hard work and
personal sacrifice; where family traditions are formed and children
raised; it is the place we hope to live out the golden years in
comfort, independence and grace.
Unfortunately, for many in our community, this dreamscape is a
nightmare. Elderly, disabled and other vulnerable homeowners
unable to perform or afford home maintenance defer maintenance
until the safety and soundness of the home is compromised.
When a homeowner with resources has a problem with plumbing, a
broken window, an inoperable furnace or water heater, they place a
call with the home warranty company; hire a handyman; or have a
capable family member fix the problem. For the homeowners we
serve the homeowner resorts to a bucket under the sink to catch the
leaking water; duct tape and newspaper to cover the missing window
pane; use a space heater or oven to warm a room; or forego a bath
because the water is too cold.
We work collaboratively with community organizations and
volunteers to preserve the homes of our most vulnerable
neighbors. Our volunteers perform the work so a home is not
tagged as blighted; before the homeowner sequesters herself to the
one room with intact windows and a space heater or before he falls
in the bathroom.
A typical Rebuilding Together Oakland homeowner may be a:
- Senior citizen
- Grandparent raising grandchildren
- Disabled person
- Veteran
- Adult child caring for ailing parents