Zeno Swijtink
11-30-2007, 10:58 AM
https://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2007/11/30/sonomawest/news/news7.txt
Sebastopol's Rebuilding Together “wants you”
Application deadline is Dec. 31 for local projects
by Laura McCutcheon - Sonoma West Staff Writer
MEASURING UP — Sebastopol’s Rebuilding Together has the workers, money and time. Now they need a few more projects to work on next year. Photo above is from last year’s work day.
Rebuilding Together-Sebastopol has resources to help homeowners with basic home repairs and projects but the non-profit, volunteer organization is finding a lack of people in need of its free services.
Entering its third year providing no cost home repairs to low-income and disabled homeowners in Sebastopol and West County, Rebuilding Together-Sebastopol is again looking for home projects for its April 2008 Workday. Applications are currently being accepted and must be submitted no later than Dec. 31.
“We are really stumped by why there is not more need out there; we have the resources but we don't have the applicants,” Kim Cottingham, Chair of Rebuilding Together-Sebastopol said.
The local affiliate of the Santa Rosa chapter works with community members - including both local Rotary Clubs - contractors and other businesses to provide labor and funding for the projects, which include, but are not limited to, building patios and decks, replacing doors and windows, repairing fences, gutters and roofs, and improving accessibility by installing grab bars, or remodeling cabinets and countertops, for example.
“We are really there to keep people in their homes; to make their house livable,” Cottingham said.
“Oftentimes the applicants are seniors who own their own homes but don't have the ability, the money, nor the resources to take care of basic repairs and maintenance,” said Dave Leff, of Leff Construction, also on the Rebuilding Together-Sebastopol board.
Applicants must own the home in need of repair, and meet income criteria, based on the median income, which might be part of the reason there aren't more people taking advantage of the free service.
One problem is that many people who own their own home in the Sebastopol area are not considered low income, Leff said, referring to the high cost of housing in West County.
“It's difficult to own your home here and be low income,” he said. “I think that is one of the reasons we are having the problem we are having. We have the money, the volunteers, and the organization in place, but where are the (applicants)?”
The application deadline for the April Workday is Dec. 31. For an application or more information visit www.rtsebastopol.org or call 823-6636.
Examples of Rebuilding Together projects include:
Accessibility improvements
- Installing grab bars
- Building remaps
- Minor remodeling of cabinets and countertops
- Removing obstacles to clear path of travel
- Stair and handrail repair
Repairs
- Drywall
- Fences
- Decks
- Windows
- Gutters
- Roof
- Siding and exterior trim
Other
- Building of simple patios and decks
- Painting and paint repairs
- Replacement of doors and windows
- Repairs and replacement of flooring
- Minor plumbing, electrical, heating/duct, and structural repairs
- Similar types of requests upon evaluation
Sebastopol's Rebuilding Together “wants you”
Application deadline is Dec. 31 for local projects
by Laura McCutcheon - Sonoma West Staff Writer
MEASURING UP — Sebastopol’s Rebuilding Together has the workers, money and time. Now they need a few more projects to work on next year. Photo above is from last year’s work day.
Rebuilding Together-Sebastopol has resources to help homeowners with basic home repairs and projects but the non-profit, volunteer organization is finding a lack of people in need of its free services.
Entering its third year providing no cost home repairs to low-income and disabled homeowners in Sebastopol and West County, Rebuilding Together-Sebastopol is again looking for home projects for its April 2008 Workday. Applications are currently being accepted and must be submitted no later than Dec. 31.
“We are really stumped by why there is not more need out there; we have the resources but we don't have the applicants,” Kim Cottingham, Chair of Rebuilding Together-Sebastopol said.
The local affiliate of the Santa Rosa chapter works with community members - including both local Rotary Clubs - contractors and other businesses to provide labor and funding for the projects, which include, but are not limited to, building patios and decks, replacing doors and windows, repairing fences, gutters and roofs, and improving accessibility by installing grab bars, or remodeling cabinets and countertops, for example.
“We are really there to keep people in their homes; to make their house livable,” Cottingham said.
“Oftentimes the applicants are seniors who own their own homes but don't have the ability, the money, nor the resources to take care of basic repairs and maintenance,” said Dave Leff, of Leff Construction, also on the Rebuilding Together-Sebastopol board.
Applicants must own the home in need of repair, and meet income criteria, based on the median income, which might be part of the reason there aren't more people taking advantage of the free service.
One problem is that many people who own their own home in the Sebastopol area are not considered low income, Leff said, referring to the high cost of housing in West County.
“It's difficult to own your home here and be low income,” he said. “I think that is one of the reasons we are having the problem we are having. We have the money, the volunteers, and the organization in place, but where are the (applicants)?”
The application deadline for the April Workday is Dec. 31. For an application or more information visit www.rtsebastopol.org or call 823-6636.
Examples of Rebuilding Together projects include:
Accessibility improvements
- Installing grab bars
- Building remaps
- Minor remodeling of cabinets and countertops
- Removing obstacles to clear path of travel
- Stair and handrail repair
Repairs
- Drywall
- Fences
- Decks
- Windows
- Gutters
- Roof
- Siding and exterior trim
Other
- Building of simple patios and decks
- Painting and paint repairs
- Replacement of doors and windows
- Repairs and replacement of flooring
- Minor plumbing, electrical, heating/duct, and structural repairs
- Similar types of requests upon evaluation