IIn a world where housing insecurity and unaffordable living conditions plague communities across the United States, Rebuilding Together Greater Charlotte stands as a beacon of hope. The organization, a local affiliate of the national nonprofit Rebuilding Together, is dedicated to ensuring that low-income families can live in safe and healthy homes. Through critical home repairs and accessibility modifications, they are making a profound difference, not only in the lives of homeowners but in the very fabric of neighborhoods. "Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte is one affiliate of a national organization that has over 100 affiliates nationwide," explained Will Rimer, Director of Development and Communications of the Greater Charlotte regional organization. "We all are our own separate entities and nonprofits, but we share resources, best practices, and branding. What we do is built on the principle of neighbors helping neighbors." A Mission Rooted in Community The origins of Rebuilding Together trace back to Texas, where a simple act of kindness turned into a nationwide movement. "Some neighbors noticed that one of their own was living in a home in disrepair, so they organized and got together to help," Rimer said. "They did it again the next year and the next year, and soon it grew beyond just their neighborhood. That’s how Rebuilding Together was born."
In Charlotte, the organization was founded in 2010 as an all-volunteer effort. For the first eight years, it was run by a dedicated volunteer board, completing only a handful of projects each year. But in 2018, a pivotal change occurred. "The chair of the board at the time quit her job at Wells Fargo to become the executive director," Rimer said. "Since then, we've grown tremendously. In 2017, we completed six projects. This year, our goal is to complete 60. That’s a tenfold increase in just six years."
Meeting an Urgent Need
16
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator