44 free home make-overs in Eastview Neighborhood: Year of planning, preparation and production realized

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 Wednesday 18 April 2012 Councilwoman Robertson invites all to see 44 free home make-overs in Eastview 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 Ellen F. Robertson, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council, Gateway 6th District, invites everyone to come out and see 44 homes in the Eastview 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 Gateway 6th District, the Eastview Neighborhood includes a diverse mix of home styles, such as one story frame bungalows and brick Cape Cods. The homes were primarily built in the 1940's and 1950's. The Eastview Neighborhood is generally bounded by Interstates 64 and 95 on the north and west, the Mechanicsville Turnpike and Mosby Street corridor on the east, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge on the south. Produced and managed by Rebuilding Together of Richmond, this 2012 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 20th event year. 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 2012 Richmond Rebuilding Day Event Saturday, 28 April 2012 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. WHERE Central Command Post Headquarters located at: Pilgrim Baptist Church 1900 Whitcomb Street WHO The Honorable Ellen F. Robertson, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council, Gateway 6th District, CONTACT For more information, please contact Amy King, Director, Rebuilding Together of Richmond, at: 804.513.8628 (mobile); or via email, at: amy@rebuildingtogetherrichmond.org; 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 2012 Rebuilding Together of Richmond Facts • Forty-four homes will be served in the Eastview 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 nineteenth year, the organization has rehabilitated 879 homes and helped to revitalize 17 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 and family members. Volunteer occupational and physical therapists make recommendations of products and modifications to be included in the rehab effort, such as: 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 and fall hazards - E N D - ______________________________________ 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) ______________________________________ 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.