THE ACCA REBUILDING TOGETHER PROGRAM
The national Christmas in April program began in Midland, Texas in 1983 when a group of people joined together to repair the home of an elderly neighbor. The idea has since spread to all 50 states and is an annual event on the last Saturday of April. In 2002, the name of the program was changed to Rebuilding Together to better reflect the housing rehabilitation mission.
ACCA partnering with Rebuilding Together (RT), has provided home repair assistance to 123 low-income homeowners and group home providers, primarily seniors & persons with disabilities. RT is the largest volunteer home repair program in the USA. Our common goal is to provide a safe, accessible and healthy environment for those we serve.ACCA volunteers range in age from 16-80 and bring a variety of skills and experience.
Tasks range from carpentry, electric, painting and plumbing to yard work. Staff from the RT Arlington/Fairfax/Falls Church affiliate inspect and select the houses, work with the homeowners, and provide insurance for the volunteers. Repairs are funded by the sponsoring churches and individuals and the work is organized and directed by experienced ACCA house captains. Everyone is urged to be on the lookout for homeowners with annual incomes less than $30,000 who might benefit from our help, especially seniors.
In 2018, ACCA also provided a donation and volunteers to the Rebuilding Together Express program, to help provide simple safety repairs, accessibility modifications, and energy upgrades for homeowners whose needs are not as complex as those addressed by the National Rebuilding Day projects.
Other ways in which ACCA addresses the needs for housing and temporary shelter are:
- Providing volunteer support to Shelter House and Bailey’s Shelter
- Assisting families in crisis with money for rent and utility bills
- Providing rent, food and furniture for families leaving shelter
- Encouraging churches to participate in the County’s Hypothermia program
