RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
Richmond City Council – Richmond City Hall - 900 E. Broad Street, Suite 200 - Richmond, VA 23219 - www.council.richmondva.gov
COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS ADVISORY
IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO BE FORWARDED AND SHARED
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Councilwoman Newbille invites all to see 47 free home make-overs in Peter Paul Neighborhood: Year of planning, preparation and production realized
Rebuilding Together of Richmond to deploy 1,500 volunteers in to fix homes owned by seniors with low-income and people who are disabled
WHAT The Honorable Cynthia I. Newbille, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council, East End 7th District, invites everyone to come out and see 47 homes in the Peter Paul Neighborhood receive free home repair make-overs. Project to included homes owned by seniors with low-income and people who are disabled. Located in the East End 7th District, the Peter Paul Neighborhood has some of the highest concentration of poverty in Richmond. This project is the largest of its kind in Richmond.
Produced and managed by Rebuilding Together of Richmond, this 2011 Richmond Rebuilding Day event represents a year of dedication and hundreds of hours of planning, preparation and production. Work completed up to this point has included soliciting and reviewing applications; coordination of funding and supplies; months of skilled trades work done in preparation; and, coordination and management of 1,500 community volunteers.
Examples of repairs and renovations include painting, heating/ cooling, roof, windows, handrails, porch repairs, lighting and removal of dangerous trip/ fall hazards. This will be the 19th event year.
An event Kick-Off will be held the day before during an Affordable Housing Awareness Week event being sponsored by Partnership for Affordable Housing (an association of 14 nonprofit organizations). This event will include food, fun and festivity and provide a chance for neighbors in the Peter Paul Neighborhood to come together and learn more about local resources available to them.
Rebuilding Together of Richmond is a local nonprofit agency that receives its supplies and funding from Richmond-based businesses, individuals and community partners.
Homes to be repaired are chosen annually from applications submitted to Rebuilding Together of Richmond in November. Criteria for assistance include: homeowners who are 55 years of age or older or have disabilities; have a household income less than $25,000; and, living in a property in a selected project area (assessed annually).
WHEN Pre-Event Kick-Off (Held during Affordable Housing Awareness Week event sponsored by Partnership for Affordable Housing)
Friday, 29 April 2011
4:30-6:30 p.m.
2011 Richmond Rebuilding Day Event
Saturday, 30 April 2011
8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
WHERE Central Command Post Headquarters located at:
Peter Paul Development Center
1708 N. 22nd Street
WHO The Honorable Cynthia I. Newbille, Councilwoman
Richmond City Council, East End 7th District
CONTACT For more information, please contact Amy King, Director, Rebuilding Together of Richmond, at: 804.513.8628 (mobile); or via email, at: rebuildingtogether-richmond@comcast.net; or website, at www.rebuildingtogetherrichmond.org
BACKGROUND __________________________________________________________________________
Rebuilding Together of Richmond
Rebuilding Together of Richmond is part of nation's largest nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing critical home repair and modification services to those in need at no cost to homeowners. With the help of citizen volunteers, skilled tradesman, the support of local business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together affiliates in America’s largest cities and smallest towns make life considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners. In addition to its core home repair work, Rebuilding Together also rehabilitates community centers and conducts home modification and repair programs that focus on aging in place. Rebuilding Together has programs dedicated to energy efficiency, veteran’s housing, and disaster recovery and reconstruction. For more information, please visit the Rebuilding Together website, at www.RebuildingTogether.org
2011 Rebuilding Together of Richmond Facts
• Forty-seven homes will be served in the Peter Paul Neighborhood
• All homes are owned and occupied by seniors with low-income and people who are disabled living in the City of Richmond.
• More than 1,500 volunteers participate in Rebuilding Together of Richmond each year.
• The services and products delivered by Rebuilding Together of Richmond are paid for, sponsored and underwritten primarily by Richmond-based businesses and community partners.
• The Richmond Rebuilding Together organization began in April 1993 with repairs to 23 homes in Richmond’s Blackwell Neighborhood. At the close of it eighteenth year, the organization has rehabilitated 830 homes and helped to revitalize 15 Richmond- area neighborhoods.
• Improvements made to homes have included:
o Reattaching gutters and downspouts
o Adding handrails to front/back stoops, adding/repairing wheelchair ramps
o Weatherizing doors and windows
o Roof replacement, heating restoration and insulation
o Hot water tank and other appliance repair and replacement
o Electrical service upgrades
o Bath fixtures replacement
o Repair to floors rotted by wet conditions
o Addition of security doors, deadbolts and peepholes.
• The Home Modifications component of this program includes assessment of the homeowner by an occupational therapist, followed by recommendations of products and modifications to be included in the rehabilitation effort, which may include:
o Supplying durable medical equipment – tub benches, toilet railings, grab bars
o Resolving safety issues – large numbers on telephones, CO2 and smoke detectors
o Elimination of trip/fall hazards
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Steven R. Skinner, APR
Council Public Information Manager
Office of the Chief of Staff
RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
Richmond City Hall
900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804.646.6052 (office)
804.335.4054 (mobile)
804.937.1386 (home/mobile)
804.646.5468 (fax)
skinnesr@ci.richmond.va.us (email)
www.council.richmondva.gov(website)
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MISSION The mission of Richmond City Council
is to represent citizens in creating and amending
local laws, providing government policy and
oversight, and approving the city budget.
VISION Richmond City Council is committed to
creating a vibrant community that is a great place
to live, work, learn, play, visit and raise a family.
