The cost of living in San Francisco can be extremely high, even for residents with a steady income.
Photo by Reynaldo Cayetano
By Kelsey Miller
Published: April, 2015
The cost of living in San Francisco can be extremely high, even for residents with a steady income. Many elderly San Franciscans own their home outright, but they bought it when housing was much cheaper and they do not have the current resources to upkeep their properties. By providing necessary repairs for free, a nonprofit called Rebuilding Together San Francisco (RTSF) helps individuals stay in their homes longer.
For example, Ms. T moved to San Francisco from a farm in Arkansas in February 1948. Ms. T recalls borrowing $100 to make a down payment on her home in 1963. “A hundred dollars,” she said, “and it only cost me $14,500.” She notes that she did all that she could to keep up with her home, but there was a lot that she was not able to do because of her age and financial situation.
Although their homes are their greatest assets, people like Ms. T aren’t able to keep up with the repairs that their homes need. Leaving the maintenance unattended puts the homeowner at risk, threatening their health and safety. In many homes, mold grows, the furnace breaks, the stove does not work and the residents go without clean air, heat or a place to cook. By allowing individuals to keep their homes, RTSF also promotes community continuity and helps prevent gentrification.
RTSF is a nonprofit that mobilizes teams of volunteers to provide free home repairs for seniors, disabled adults, as well as nonprofits and schools. Its mission is to help people age safely in their homes and support their local community spaces, making them safer, warmer and brighter for both staff and participants. Now in its 26th year, RTSF works on 30 to 50 projects annually, engages over 2,000 volunteers and supports over 400 seniors and disabled adults with basic safety repairs at no cost.
RTSF was founded in 1989, just prior to the Loma Prieta earthquake. Known then as Christmas in April, the organization was created through the grassroots collaboration of several business, labor and community organizations in San Francisco. RTSF is a local affiliate of Rebuilding Together, a national organization that includes 195 affiliates serving 500 communities nationwide, and mobilizing thousands of volunteers each year.
Rebuilding Together provides its services through two main programs: Rebuilding Day and the Home Safety and Installation program.
Through the Home Safety and Installation program, Rebuilding Together provides free home safety modifications to prevent falls, which are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. These safety modifications include grab bars, handrails, raised toilet seats and shower chairs. These modifications, although they seem simple, prevent costly and sometimes fatal injuries for elderly and disabled individuals. “It is amazing what a small modification can do for a homeowner,” said Keely Webb, Rebuilding Together’s AmeriCorps program associate.
RTSF’s most established program, Rebuilding Day, is a citywide renovation effort that is the culmination of a year’s worth of planning and coordination. On the last Saturday in April, thousands of volunteers renovate nonprofit facilities and schools and repair the homes of low-income, disabled and elderly San Franciscans. Rebuilding Day is a part of National Rebuilding Day, when tens of thousands of volunteers across the nation give back to their communities.
Facility repairs provided on Rebuilding Day allow nonprofit agencies and public schools to focus their efforts and funding on program services, rather than on repairs and renovations. Teams of volunteers work under the direction of architects, designers and space planners to create efficient, stimulating work environments that improve nonprofit agencies’ productivity and ability to fulfill their missions. Typically, these projects focus on refurbishment, functional improvements, safety improvements, beautification and other enhancements to further the work of the organization.
This year, Rebuilding Together’s National Rebuilding Day is Saturday, April 25, when more than 800 volunteers will be working throughout San Francisco on 20 to 30 homes and facilities. If you are interested in volunteering, RTSF would love to have you! Volunteer days usually last from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a wide range of work depending on your skills.
If you are interested in Rebuilding Together San Francisco’s application process or services, please contact Kelsey Miller, AmeriCorps volunteer and outreach coordinator, at (415) 905-1611 ext. 203 or Kelsey@rebuildingtogethersf.org
AmeriCorps Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator Kelsey Miller (middle) with Rebuilding Day recipients Warren and Peggy.
A Rebuilding Day volunteer hard at work, wrapping up the finishing touches on a home. © The Aperturist / Allison Ekevara Kitpowsong
