Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley

What We Do

Since 1991, Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley (RTSV) has served Santa Clara Valley residents by responding to urgent health and safety needs for low-income, senior and/or disabled homeowners. RTSV replaces non-working furnaces, installs water heaters, repairs roofs, updates plumbing fixtures, installs new kitchen appliances, and more at no cost to the recipient. By making these critical repairs, we effectively preserve affordable housing and provide safe and secure living environments for our community. RTSV also repairs nonprofit facilities so that those organizations can focus resources on serving the community rather than facility maintenance.

"Volunteers, you cannot realize how much you have touched my life. I sincerely appreciate all the help you have given me when you chose to volunteer at my house. I cannot believe that there are such nice people as yourselves who would give up a Saturday on your weekend to help someone you don’t even know." - Ms. D. Coldwell, 87, San Jose

Our two major programs are Rebuilding Day and Safe at Home.

Rebuilding Day is our bi-annual home repair blitz, pulling together hundreds of volunteers and dozens of sponsors to repair and rehabilitate nonprofit facilities and the homes of low-income homeowners. Over the course of just a few days during April and October, our Rebuilding Day program provides both major and minor repairs and renovations that result in life-changing improvements for the homeowners and organizations served. These improvements may include plumbing repair/installation, exterior painting, flooring installation, new decking, steps and walkways, installing kitchen appliances, and much more. As houses are transformed, neighborhoods and communities find hope and pride restored.

Central to our vision of a safe and healthy home for everyone, the RTSV Safe at Home program addresses home repair and maintenance issues that may otherwise present a safety risk or that limit access to or within the home. We install safety grab bars, wheelchair ramps/lifts, fire and carbon alarms, doors/locks, water heaters, heating and more.  Prior to all repairs, a qualified staff member will perform an onsite needs-based assessment to identify potential home repair and maintenance tasks primarily focused on, but not limited to:

• Fall Prevention

• Accessibility/Mobility

• Aging in Place

• Weatherization/Energy Efficiency

• Home & Fire Safety

How We Do It

We are able to provide all of our services, at no cost to the recipient, by utilizing volunteer labor and donated and reduced cost supplies and materials. Most of the work is completed by community volunteers who generously donate their time and talents to help out.

These volunteers come from businesses, faith communities, construction teams, and service groups. By leveraging these resources we are able to produce $9 of repairs for every $1 donated. Since 1991, Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley has brought joy to hundreds of homeowners. Here’s a quick look at our community impact.

2018 Impact

22,601–Volunteer hours donated by Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley volunteers

3,761–Critical safety and accessibility repairs

413– Rehabilitation repair project at homes and community centers

1,000–Silicon Valley Local residents homeowners directly impacted with life-changing repairs

15,394–Clients impacted from area nonprofit facilities