Thirty-two (32) percent of homeowners are low-income and the number of low-to-moderate income homeowners in the United States is projected to increase to over 30 million by the year 2012. More and more families are placed in the position of choosing between vital necessities, such as food or medicine, or a roof that does not leak. Rebuilding Together works to ensure that as many of those families as possible do not have to make these difficult choices.

Mrs. Leonora Burnett got a badly needed new kitchen in April thanks to Rebuilding Together Miami-Dade volunteers.
"After" photograph courtesy of Frances Dubson, Community Newspapers.

   MIAMI FL SEPT 25 2008 - No longer does James Sands have to choose between buying food and medicine or having the deteriorating screen replaced on his house. This month, he got both.
   Sands, a World war II veteran and member of American Legion 182, is having much of his Coral Gables home renovated, including shelving for his his kitchen cabinets, handicap bars in his bathrooms, exterior painting, floor boards replaced around the house and other odds and ends.
   Thanks to Rebuilding Together-Miami and the project Heroes at Home, three war veterans including Sands are having much-needed work done to their houses.
   "This means everything tome," Sands said. "My wife and I are on a fixed income so this is a big help. I'm really happy with the work the volunteers have done. Anything is an improvement."
   Founded in 1993, Rebuilding Together-Miami is a non profit organiza:ion that supports low-income families, the elderly and the disabled, members of the military and veterans and their families bt providing home repairs, improvements or modifications.
   More than 30 volunteers came out Sept. 13 to help with the project. Sears and Kmart stores also helped renovate these homes by raising money through a nationwide in-store fundraising campaign and donations.
   "Rebuilding Together-Miami is very pleased and proud to team with sears and Kmart to assist military families in the Miami community," said President Bob Miller.
   For the past several years, the organization has been working on a 'shoe-string" budget and mostly did simple tasks and painting. This year, however, Rebuilding Together raised more money from private donations and gratnts and is able to do more complicated repairs.
   Shell Lumber, a hardware store in Miami, donated $15,000 in materials to help the veterans, and House Doctor's President Lucious McGriff Jr. has been volunteering for five years and has been doing all the contracting for these houses.
   In Gerald Smith's home, many big repairs were done or are still being worked on each day. Smith, 60, is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam and is now confined to a wheelchair. He had a leg amputated three years ago as a result of exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

HERO AT HOME: Vietnam veteran Gerald Smith. 60, got the entry by his refrigerator widened so his wheelchair would fit through it. His leg was amputated three years ago as a result of exposure to Agent Orange.

   "Because he's in a wheelchair. he couldn't move around his house very easily," said James McCants, director of community affairs. "We cut the wall in the kitchen so he'll have access to the fridge and we also took the wall out in his bedroom because there wasn't enough room, for mobility. We widened the door to the bathroom so it would be easier with his wheelchair and put a seat in the shower so he can bathe himself."
   And for Vietnam veteran Alexander Harris, 59, who is confined to a wheelchair as well, doors are also being widened for easier accessibility, and he is receiving new hurricane proof shutters to help keep his home safe during storms.
  Volunteers who came out on the hot and humid Saturday included University of Miami students, community members and young adults with Greater Miami Service Corps.
   "We started at 9 a.m., working on different details on the house, landscaping 2nd trimming and cutting," said Robert Clark, lead team supervisor. "Whenever we get a call to help with a project, we come out to volunteer our time."
   One community volunteer, Gordon Fales came out Saturday to paint and help those that need it.
   "This is unique because we as volunteers are able to fix an immediate need and help these people retain home ownership," Fales said. "It's really rewarding to meet the people that we're helping."

OUTSIDE JOB: Rico Johnson, 21, above, of Brownsville, volunteers with the Greater Miami Service Corp. Here, he paints the home of James Sands, below, a World War II veteran WllO lives in Coral Gables,.

MIAMI, FL - Local volunteers from Countrywide Financial Corporation, Mellon
Financial Corporation, State Farm Insurance, and Wachovia recently participated in the fifth annual financial services industry's Community
Build Day. On Aug. 5, a total of 39 member companies of The Financial Services Roundtable helped to build and repair homes in 62 cities across the United States, as well as participate in other activities aimed at bettering the communities which their companies serve. National partners for the 2006 Community Build Day included Habitat for Humanity, NeighborWorksR America, Rebuilding Together, America's Promise, USA Freedom Corps, and the Points of Light Foundation.

"Community Build Day demonstrates to the public how the financial services industry works 365 days a year to improve the cities which they serve," said Steve Bartlett, President and CEO of The Financial Services Roundtable. "The member companies of the Roundtable are competitors in the marketplace, but this day showed our cooperation in the community."

Volunteers painting the interior of Mrs. Hattie Marshall's Coconut Grove home.

Locally, Countrywide Financial Corporation, Mellon Financial Corporation, State Farm Insurance, and Wachovia partnered with Rebuilding Together to renovate the home of Mrs. Hattie Marshall.

The Coconut Grove resident, who is in her nineties, has lived in her home since 1957. More than 50 volunteers from the participating companies and Rebuilding Together repaired leaks in the home's wood floor and carport roof; painted the interior and exterior of the home; replaced carpeting; provided landscaping services; and treated for termites.

This year marked the fifth annual Community Build Day. Stanley R. Ommen, President and CEO of State Farm Bank, is the 2006 Community Build Day Chairman. The National Co-Sponsors for the 2006 Community Build Day are: ACE Group, AEGON USA, American General Financial Services, Citigroup, Countrywide Financial Corporation, LaSalle Bank Corporation, New Century Financial Corporation, Raymond James, State FarmR, Synovus, UnumProvident, U.S. Bancorp, Wachovia, Washington Mutual, and Wells Fargo.

Volunteers take a break from their hard work during a brief ceremony. More than 50 volunteers from participating companies and local organizations took part in the event.

The Financial Services Roundtable represents 100 of the largest integrated financial services companies providing banking, insurance, and investment products and services to the American consumer. In its latest Community Involvement Survey, financial services companies donated or raised nearly $1.21 billion in direct charitable contributions, and employees donated 5.2 million volunteer hours, the equivalent of a workforce of 2,600 people.

The Community Services Roundtable, comprised of Mellon Financial, SunTrust Banks, State Farm Insurance and Countywide Insurance, support Rebuilding Together both nationally and locally.

The group donated $20,000 to use for local efforts restoring houses for low-income homeowners.

This year the Round Table event will take place in Coconut Grove on August 5.

Please contact us by email if you would like to participate.

From left to right: Jose Soto of State Farm, Nicholas Bustle, President SunTrust Bank/Miami, Bob Miller, President of First Florida Building Corp., Rep. Mario Diaz-Ballart, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Mayor Mary Scott Russell and her son Chris, James McCants of South Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, Robert Sucher of Mellon Bank and Rep. Julio Robaina.