April 23, 2016 — Rebuild Together Omaha Day Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rebuilding Together Omaha to Provide Critical Repairs to 12 Homes during National Rebuilding Month in April
April 23, 2016

Nearly 500 volunteers to help rebuild homes in Omaha, NE

Omaha, NE – March 21, 2016 – Rebuilding Together Omaha— an affiliate of Rebuilding Together, a leading national nonprofit in safe and healthy housing that provides low-income homeowners with critical home repairs — will take part in this year’s National Rebuilding Month by uniting the efforts of 500 volunteers to provide free repairs, painting, yard clean-up, waste removal and landscaping for residents in a four-block area of Prospect Village.

National Rebuilding Month is a month-long national call to service during the entire month of April, culminating with National Rebuilding Day, the last Saturday in April. Nearly 20,000 volunteers will serve on over 700 affiliate-lead community revitalization projects during National Rebuilding Month. Rebuilding Together Omaha is focusing resources on Prospect Village. Despite a rich melting pot of history dating back to the 1850’s, Prospect Village has experienced decline, leaving many of its properties to fall into foreclosure and demolition. A city analysis of census data found that about 1,600 people live in the Prospect Village redevelopment area, about 30 percent below the poverty level. Rebuilding Together Omaha is one of twenty-five organizations participating in the City of Omaha Planning Department’s “holistic revitalization initiative” in the Prospect Village neighborhood.

This year, Rebuilding Together Omaha will complete 12 projects during National Rebuilding Month, bringing together 500 volunteers to serve homeowners and communities in need in the Prospect Village community with the help of Abide. Residents will receive nearly $100,000 in free labor, materials, and repairs, making their homes and neighborhoods safer, more beautiful places to live. National Rebuilding Month has been recognized by community leaders and national corporate partners for its immediate and large-scale impact to communities across the country.

“Age, disabilities, or poverty levels have left these homeowners with no way to pay for critical / emergency home repairs or modifications,” said Lynette Farhart, Executive Director or Rebuilding Together Omaha. “It is vital that these individuals receive support to remain in their homes for as long as it is safe and feasible. We would be unable to provide these people with home repair and modification services without the generous volunteers that are joining us on National Rebuilding Day. Together, we’ll replace roofs, install energy efficient windows and doors, provide mold remediation, make accessibility modifications like ramps and grab bars, and complete electrical, plumbing and safety repairs, all while providing resources like dumpsters and volunteers to the entire neighborhood.”

If interested in partnering with Rebuilding Together Omaha or serving as a volunteer, please visit https://rebuildingtogetheromaha.org or contact Lynette Farhart directly at 402.965-9201.
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About Rebuilding Together Omaha: Rebuilding Together Omaha serves low-income, elderly or permanently disabled homeowners in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie Counties with no-cost home repairs and accessibility modifications. Our goal is to allow these senior and disabled citizens to age-in-place and to live in warmth, safety, and independence. Rebuilding Together Omaha sponsorship provides community-minded companies and their employees, foundations, service organizations, and congregations with an opportunity to serve the community while building a positive association with a nonprofit that holds a long, successful history in Omaha neighborhoods. Visit rebuildingtogetheromaha.org for more information and to make a donation for this and other Rebuilding Together projects.

Rebuilding Together is a leading national nonprofit in safe and healthy housing with more than 40 years of experience. Together, with our corporate and community partners, we transform the lives of low-income homeowners by improving the safety and health of their homes and revitalizing our communities. Rebuilding Together’s local affiliates and nearly 100,000 volunteers complete about 10,000 rebuild projects nationwide each year. Learn more and get involved at rebuildingtogether.org.

Abide is an inner city, non-profit organization with a dream, that one day, Omaha, Nebraska would have no inner city! We hope to accomplish this one neighborhood at a time.
We believe in the power of ‘Better Together’ therefore we understand that neighborhood revitalization is greatly accomplished through key partnerships and community stakeholders.
We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Rebuilding Together for ‘Rebuilding Day!’ In addition to helping restore homes together, we will host a Block Party for the community of Prospect Village and skilled contractors and their families to celebrate their investment.

Media Contact:
Lisa Turner
Rebuilding Together Omaha