Rebuilding Together (National) is the nation's largest volunteer home rehabilitation organization, providing repairs and modifications free of charge to homeowners in need. With the support of private industry and 275,000 volunteers, the 232 Rebuilding Together affiliates in 46 states work to preserve and revitalize over 1800 communities nationwide by repairing and upgrading over 10,000 owner-occupied homes and community centers each year.

Established in 1988, Rebuilding Together's core mission is to provide free home repair and rehabilitation services to low-income homeowners. Central to that mission is serving the elderly, the disabled, families with children, and veterans. Improving home energy efficiency and conservation are also part of Rebuilding Together's programming efforts. Further, Rebuilding Together has assumed an important role in disaster recovery and reconstruction initiatives in the Gulf.

Rebuilding Together is unique in its mission of preserving the owner-occupied houses of those in need. To strengthen this distinctive role, Rebuilding Together is enhancing its advocacy and public policy program by creating greater visibility in Washington for Rebuilding Together and its mission; connecting the national network of Rebuilding Together affiliates with their members of Congress; taking positions on policy issues that are important to the community of housing organizations; strengthening Rebuilding Together's place at the public policy table discussing low-income housing issues; and working to expand available resources and programs for the affiliates.

In 1988, with 13 loosely organized programs in operation, the national office began. The organization was started as "Christmas in April" and the first office was in the basement of Patty Johnson's Washington D.C. home. Johnson had served as the first Executive Director of the D.C. affiliate and was chosen as the first President and CEO of the national organization. The national office assisted in the planning, development and coordination of all services, as well as focusing on replicating the volunteer rehabilitation model in cities and towns across the nation. Fourteen years later there are over 250 affiliates serving more than 955 cities and towns.

In 2000 the organization, recognizing the growing needs of low-income homeowners, expanded its mission to provide more year-round services and a greater diversity of services, all focused around the core of goal of rehabilitation and revitalization. With the expanded mission came a new name, a name that reflects the work and the partnership approach used by our organization. Today various service modules are underway in many communities, among them emergency services, home modifications, weatherization and non-profit facility repair. http://www.rebuildingtogether.org