CBRE Makes Repairs for Two South Minneapolis Homeowners

Rebuilding Together Twin Cities partnered with 70 volunteers from CBRE this week to make repairs for two South Minneapolis homeowners, including Natoya, a single mother of three young children.  Volunteers built a privacy fence so that Natoya’s children can safely use their yard for exercise and to play outdoors and made other interior and exterior repairs.  In her thank you note to the volunteers, Natoya wrote, “Thank you for creating a safe environment for my family!”

These projects and others completed across the country are part of CBRE’s BuildMonth.  Thank you to CBRE for their commitment to helping homeowners and communities in need and to the awesome volunteer team for their hard work!

ATK Renovates Shelter that Will House Homeless Female Veterans and Their Children

We recently partnered with ATK to renovate a single-family home owned by the Minnesota Council for Veterans (MACV).  MACV provides comprehensive program and supportive services to homeless veterans in four primary focus areas: emergency assistance, housing, employment and civil legal concerns.  Through their programs, MACV supports homeless veterans in structured, transitional housing, which provides more than shelter for these veterans.  This program offers a home-like environment and assistance in coordinating other needs to develop a personal plan for total recovery.  The home renovated by ATK will be used to house a homeless female veteran and her children.  We are proud to be partnering with ATK to support our nation’s veterans!

Falls Prevention Awareness Day Is September 22nd!

We are partnering with other local nonprofits to raise awareness about how to prevent falls in the home as part of Falls Prevention Awareness Day on September 22nd.  We are collaborating with the Highland Park/West Seventh Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, West 7th Business Association, Metropolitan Area on Aging, Jewish Family Service of St. Paul, Access Solutions, and West 7th Community Center to host a Home Maintenance Fair on Saturday, September 22nd from 10 am until 2 pm at the West 7th Community Center (265 Oneida Street in St. Paul).

This event will provide resources to help older adults live more independently and safely in their homes, including an opportunity to meet with contractors on site and workshops on low-cost/no cost repairs and financial help for homeowners who are older than 55.  The event is free, and prize drawings will be offered, including a special drawing for the first 100 pre-registrants who call with their name and contact information.  To pre-register, please call: 651-690-8938 or email: NorcInfo@JFSSP.org.

As part of our efforts to raise awareness about falls prevention, we also made home safety and accessibility modifications for a St. Paul homeowner in need named Karen on September 13th.  Karen is a former nurse who had a stroke 12 years ago.  With the help of her friends and community members, Karen has been able to revitalize and repair a home that she purchased over the last year.

In order to ensure that Karen can live independently and safely in her home for years to come, we partnered with volunteers from Farmer’s Insurance to install grab bars, a shower seat and a handheld shower unit in her bathroom, as well as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, motion sensor lights and a doorbell. She also received fire evacuation advice with the help of volunteers from the St. Paul Fire Department.  Thanks to the St. Paul Fire Department and community volunteers who came out to help Karen!

Fall Home Maintenance Fair on September 22nd

Rebuilding Together Twin Cities is partnering with the Highland Park/West Seventh Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC), West 7th Business Association, Metropolitan Area on Aging, Access Solutions, and West 7th Community Center to host a Home Maintenance Fair on Saturday, September 22nd from 10 am until 2 pm at the West 7th Community Center (265 Oneida Street in St. Paul).

This collaborative event will focus on raising awareness among seniors (55+) of issues surrounding healthy homes and aging in place, such as the importance of home maintenance, preventing falls in the home, and addressing other potential safety hazards.  The Fair will provide resources to help seniors live more independently and safely in their homes, including workshops on low-cost/no cost repairs and financial help for homeowners who are older than 55, special discounts on repairs and remodeling, and an opportunity to meet with contractors on site.

Attendees are encouraged to pre-register by phone (651-690-8938) or email (NORCInfo@JFSSP.org).  Walk-ins are also welcome.  We hope to see you there!