Ensuring safe and healthy housing is essential for both short-term stability and long-term economic mobility. For many low-income residents in Philadelphia who own homes, maintaining their residences becomes a significant challenge due to aging properties and limited discretionary income. Rebuilding Together Philadelphia (RTP) addresses this critical issue by transforming vulnerable houses into safe, healthy, and energy-efficient homes.
RTP evaluates homes based on 25 Safety and Healthy Housing Goals, addressing issues such as poor insulation, leaky roofs, and unabated lead. Prior to RTP’s intervention, there are typically 14 health or safety hazards on average (56% of goals met). After completing repairs, this number reduces to one or two hazards on average (94% of goals met). With support from organizations like W. W. Smith, these vital home repairs are provided free of charge.
In an innovative collaboration with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), RTP focuses on repairing homes for CHOP patients with asthma. Beyond the standard assessment, repairs specifically target factors that reduce asthma triggers, such as replacing dusty carpets and moldy drywall.
RTP not only provides immediate home repair assistance but also contributes to community development. The Emerging Rebuilders Program engages high school students, many from the same communities benefiting from RTP’s efforts. These vocational students rebuild deteriorating homes, allowing low-income senior homeowners to age in place while gaining valuable construction experience. Since 2017, RTP has partnered with Randolph Career and Technical High School and expanded to five additional partners.
W. W. Smith proudly supports Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, recognizing its crucial role in ensuring homeowners can address repairs, creating a safe living environment and improving their potential for financial progress.
With the support of The W. W. Smith Charitable Trust, Rebuilding Together Philadelphia was able to repair 101 vulnerable, owner-occupied homes during our most recent grant period. We continue to raise the bar each year to increase the number of homes we make safer and healthier for lower-income homeowners and their families — a goal only possible with partners like the Trust.
- Stefanie Seldin, Executive Director