Rebuilding Together San Diego - About Us: History

Imagine living in a home with faulty wiring or leaking pipes, and having to choose between food, medicine or making a home repair

For a growing number of San Diegans this is a grim, day-to-day reality, at a loss as to who to turn to for help

That's where Rebuilding Together
San Diego comes in

Established and independently run since 1995, Rebuilding Together San Diego (formerly known as Christmas in April) is a 501 c (3) non-profit, grassroots organization, a local affiliate of the nation’s largest volunteer home rehabilitation organization.

Through our programs and services, we step in to help our neighbors renovate their homes, and in the process, their lives, in partnership with sponsors, in-kind donors and volunteers. Our team efforts aid the elderly, disabled and low-income families in our community who own their homes, but because of age, physical limitations and low or fixed incomes, are not able to address their housing repairs themselves. Community non-profit facilities are also beneficiaries of our efforts at no cost to the recipients.

On each sponsored project, enthusiastic volunteers, both professional tradesman and unskilled individuals, arm themselves with truckloads of building materials and giving spirits. In a team effort they paint, re-carpet, landscape, clean-up and perform plumbing and electrical repairs.

This grassroots effort brings people together for one common cause; the hands-on experience allows one to see the immediate gratification of your efforts of making a significant difference in someone else’s life.

In 2005 we acquired a warehouse and office facility in Logan Heights. Our new headquarters has facilitated the develop of a year round program and our ability to serve those in need in our community.

On a National Level

Rebuilding Together, formerly known as Christmas in April, began in Midland, Texas in 1973 when a few generous people, led by Bobby Trimble, decided to devote one day to help some neighbors in need. The program acquired its name when one early homeowner exclaimed, "Why, this is just like Christmas...in April!"

In 1983, Christmas in April came to Washington D.C. after a reporter witnessed the Midland program and was overwhelmed by what he saw. A national program was launched in 1988 as Christmas in April USA. This effort has spread, changing its name to Rebuilding Together in 2001 to be more synonymous with the work we do in the community in 865 cities and towns in 50 states with more than 240 affiliates nationwide.

Impact we've made over the years:

96,120 houses and non-profit facilities rehabilitated

2.5 million volunteers involved

26 million hours of volunteer time committed

$905 million in market value repairs delivered

Picture of volunteers doing home repairs to homes in San Diego

FACT SHEET

Our programs and services have benefited hundreds of homeowners who were living in substandard conditions, without access to heat, electricity or even plumbing facilities -- many times these conditions have threaten the destruction of entire neighborhoods, had they been left unattended to.

Since 1996 RTSD has completed over 300 projects, vesting over $6.5 Million Dollars in market value into homes and neighborhoods throughout San Diego.

1996
12 projects including 1 non-profit

1997
19 projects including 2 schools

1998
26 projects including 1 community center
and 2 schools

1999
21 projects including 4 shelters and 1 development center

2000
30 projects including 4 women's shelters

2001
35 projects including 1 woman's shelter, 1 child care center and 1 community center

2002
30 projects including 1 non-profit center

2003
30 projects including 2 women's shelters with over 1,800 volunteers participating

2004
15 projects including 1 woman’s shelter, 1 community center, 1 school, 1 non-profit center

2005
28 projects including 1 non profit center, a church and a fire station

2006
38 projects including 3 fire stations, a school and a senior center

2007
30 projects including a fire station, YMCA and (3) commercial city blocks in Logan Heights



	Imagine living in a home with faulty wiring or leaking pipes, and having to choose between food, medicine or making a home repair For a growing number of San Diegans this is a grim, day-to-day reality, at a loss as to who to turn to for help That's where Rebuilding Together San Diego comes in Established and independently run since 1995, Rebuilding Together San Diego (formerly known as Christmas in April) is a 501 c (3) non-profit, grassroots organization, a local affiliate of the nation’s largest volunteer home rehabilitation organization. Through our programs and services, we step in to help our neighbors renovate their homes, and in the process, their lives, in partnership with sponsors, in-kind donors and volunteers. Our team efforts aid the elderly, disabled and low-income families in our community who own their homes, but because of age, physical limitations and low or fixed incomes, are not able to address their housing repairs themselves. Community non-profit facilities are also beneficiaries of our efforts at no cost to the recipients. On each sponsored project, enthusiastic volunteers, both professional tradesman and unskilled individuals, arm themselves with truckloads of building materials and giving spirits. In a team effort they paint, re-carpet, landscape, clean-up and perform plumbing and electrical repairs. This grassroots effort brings people together for one common cause; the hands-on experience allows one to see the immediate gratification of your efforts of making a significant difference in someone else’s life. In 2005 we acquired a warehouse and office facility in Logan Heights. Our new headquarters has facilitated the develop of a year round program and our ability to serve those in need in our community. On a National Level Rebuilding Together, formerly known as Christmas in April, began in Midland, Texas in 1973 when a few generous people, led by Bobby Trimble, decided to devote one day to help some neighbors in need. The program acquired its name when one early homeowner exclaimed, "Why, this is just like Christmas...in April!" In 1983, Christmas in April came to Washington D.C. after a reporter witnessed the Midland program and was overwhelmed by what he saw. A national program was launched in 1988 as Christmas in April USA. This effort has spread, changing its name to Rebuilding Together in 2001 to be more synonymous with the work we do in the community in 865 cities and towns in 50 states with more than 240 affiliates nationwide. Impact we've made over the years: 96,120 houses and non-profit facilities rehabilitated 2.5 million volunteers involved 26 million hours of volunteer time committed $905 million in market value repairs delivered	FACT SHEET Our programs and services have benefited hundreds of homeowners who were living in substandard conditions, without access to heat, electricity or even plumbing facilities -- many times these conditions have threaten the destruction of entire neighborhoods, had they been left unattended to. Since 1996 RTSD has completed over 300 projects, vesting over $6.5 Million Dollars in market value into homes and neighborhoods throughout San Diego. 1996 12 projects including 1 non-profit 1997 19 projects including 2 schools 1998 26 projects including 1 community center and 2 schools 1999 21 projects including 4 shelters and 1 development center 2000 30 projects including 4 women's shelters 2001 35 projects including 1 woman's shelter, 1 child care center and 1 community center 2002 30 projects including 1 non-profit center 2003 30 projects including 2 women's shelters with over 1,800 volunteers participating 2004 15 projects including 1 woman’s shelter, 1 community center, 1 school, 1 non-profit center 2005 28 projects including 1 non profit center, a church and a fire station 2006 38 projects including 3 fire stations, a school and a senior center 2007 30 projects including a fire station, YMCA and (3) commercial city blocks in Logan Heights





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