About Us
Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, Inc. ("RTTB") repairs homes of those in need. RTTB intends to preserve and revitalize houses and communities, in the Tampa Bay Area, assuring that low-income homeowners live in warmth, safety and independence.
Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay ("RTTB") was formed in 2000 in response to the increasing need for residential housing rehabilitation programs to improve living conditions for very low and low income families, especially those of senior citizens and persons with disabilities. RTTB's goal is to preserve affordable homeownership and reduce substandard housing through working partnership with corporations and county and city governments. RTTB was born out of a fundamental belief that all people deserve to live in safe and decent housing. RTTB assists existing low-income homeowners by providing necessary repairs free of charge.
These necessary repairs often include home modifications, roofing, plumbing, and electrical repairs and other improvements. RTTB is a chapter affiliate of Rebuilding Together, a national organization that is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and promotes the replication and coordination of affiliates throughout the United States. Founded in 1988, the national office provides assistance to affiliates in program development, board and staff development, marketing, communications, and financial management. In 2007 RTTB repaired 16 houses; in 2008 we successfully completed 45 and as of 2009 we already reached 70 homeowners needs.
In three years RTTB helped over 100 homeowners and non-profit facilities with the support and help of hundreds of volunteers
RTTB provides the following services to very low income, elderly, disabled homeowners, including veterans and families with children:
Home Repairs and Modifications: Through RTTB's existing volunteer base and in collaboration with corporations, foundations and local governmental housing rehabilitation programs, RTTB will make repairs that require immediate attention such as roofing, plumbing and electrical repairs.
Energy Conservation: In the delivery of its services, RTTB will implement and promote basic energy efficient measures with the dual goal of cost savings and increased homeowner safety.
Neighborhood Revitalization: Through its interactions in the communities it serves, RTTB will assist residents in established neighborhood organizations to help increase local awareness of existing resources, skills and assets within their own communities, and empower these neighborhoods to take charge of their future.
Home Repairs and Modifications: Through RTTB's existing volunteer base and in collaboration with corporations, foundations and local governmental housing rehabilitation programs, RTTB will make repairs that require immediate attention such as roofing, plumbing and electrical repairs.
Energy Conservation: In the delivery of its services, RTTB will implement and promote basic energy efficient measures with the dual goal of cost savings and increased homeowner safety.
Neighborhood Revitalization: Through its interactions in the communities it serves, RTTB will assist residents in established neighborhood organizations to help increase local awareness of existing resources, skills and assets within their own communities, and empower these neighborhoods to take charge of their future.
RTTB will strive to deliver these services by implementing the following program initiatives, when possible:
Safe and Healthy Homes Initiatives which includes: Safety Home Modifications which seek to prevent falls and keep low-income homeowners safe in their homes. RTTB often builds wheelchairs ramps and widens doorways for those that have difficulty maneuvering in and out of their homes. We also emphasize the need for grab bars in bathrooms and handrails on both sides of stairways, to allow for support in places where balance can be compromised.
The Energy Efficiency Program: This program provides low-income homeowners with the necessary repairs to make their homes more functional and reduce future utility costs - ensuring that these families will stay warm, safe, and dry in their homes for years to come. RTTB's energy efficiency work includes installing compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs; repairing or replacing water heaters; installing a water heater blanket; insulating hot water pipes and ducts; weather stripping windows; installing Low-Emittance (Low-E) coating windows; caulking around windows and doors; installing insulation in attics, walls, and crawl spaces; installing ENERGY STAR labeled appliances; and repairing leaky faucets and toilets.
Veteran Housing: Rebuilding Together's Veterans Housing Initiative was implemented to meet the growing needs of veterans from past and present wars. The initiative serves to fill the gaps in housing modifications and repair services that retired and active service men and women struggle to meet. Working in partnership with corporate sponsors, RTTB's Veterans Housing Initiative strives to provide safe and accessible housing for all low-income veterans. Two specific programs within this initiative are underway.
Safe and Healthy Homes Initiatives which includes: Safety Home Modifications which seek to prevent falls and keep low-income homeowners safe in their homes. RTTB often builds wheelchairs ramps and widens doorways for those that have difficulty maneuvering in and out of their homes. We also emphasize the need for grab bars in bathrooms and handrails on both sides of stairways, to allow for support in places where balance can be compromised.
The Energy Efficiency Program: This program provides low-income homeowners with the necessary repairs to make their homes more functional and reduce future utility costs - ensuring that these families will stay warm, safe, and dry in their homes for years to come. RTTB's energy efficiency work includes installing compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs; repairing or replacing water heaters; installing a water heater blanket; insulating hot water pipes and ducts; weather stripping windows; installing Low-Emittance (Low-E) coating windows; caulking around windows and doors; installing insulation in attics, walls, and crawl spaces; installing ENERGY STAR labeled appliances; and repairing leaky faucets and toilets.
Veteran Housing: Rebuilding Together's Veterans Housing Initiative was implemented to meet the growing needs of veterans from past and present wars. The initiative serves to fill the gaps in housing modifications and repair services that retired and active service men and women struggle to meet. Working in partnership with corporate sponsors, RTTB's Veterans Housing Initiative strives to provide safe and accessible housing for all low-income veterans. Two specific programs within this initiative are underway.
- Serving Those Who Serve was launched with the support of founding sponsor, Countrywide Financial Corporation, through the National Rebuilding Together Office to meet the needs of those severely injured veterans returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The program focuses on providing home modifications and repairs to help veterans who are returning to their homes with severe service-related injuries, to live in their homes with greater mobility, safety, and comfort.
- Heroes at Home program was launched with the support of founding sponsor Sears Holding Corporation. This program focuses on providing housing modifications and home repair services for all low-income service men and women and their families from past and present wars.
National Rebuild Day: RTTB's annual signature event that occurs on the last Saturday of April is the culmination of a year of planning, evaluating, training, organizing, and assembling the largest local group of volunteers to repair and restore houses and non-profit facilities, to revitalize entire communities, and make a lasting impression on those families and individuals who are helped. Hundreds of skilled and unskilled volunteers from all ages, faiths, and walks of life come together to paint, clean, weatherize, and generally repair and rehabilitate the homes of those in need. To date, more than 50 houses in the Tampa Bay area have been repaired and rehabilitated by RTTB volunteers. In addition to National Rebuilding Day in April, RTTB is planning to implement "Year Round" program in the area, delivering emergency services, home modifications and green building to conserve energy and consumption.
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