Volunteers provided free home repairs to 29 low-income families in Howard County during Rebuilding Day 2015.

Howard County, MD, Saturday, April 25 — Rebuilding Together Howard County (RTHC) held their annual Rebuilding Day this year to provide vital home repairs to local, homeowners. The event took place on April 25, 2015 when over 800 volunteers helped repair 29 low-income houses free of charge.

RTHC received a $30,000 Maryland Affordable Housing Grant this year and used a portion of the investment to install new roofs on two mobile homes in this Rebuilding Day. The new roofs come with a lifetime warranty and peace of mind for these homeowners. Both homes had experienced extensive damage due to their leaky roofs, volunteers from Harkins Builders and the Appalachian Service Project (ASP) helped repair this internal damage.

RTHC partnered with Sears as part of their Heroes at Home project and provided funding to install a new roof along with energy efficient windows for a local veteran in need. They repaired the deck and installed new safety rails, the furnace was replaced, and the main bathroom plumbing was repaired. The ASP volunteers also helped replace doors and windows on a mobile home with damage due to roof and window leaks. This home received a new roof with a lifetime warranty and weak areas in the floor were fixed as well.

The Office of Aging collaborated with RTHC to help repair several homes during this year’s Rebuilding Day, including replacing a leaky roof on a mobile home. Volunteers from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation repaired weak floors, replaced windows, and fixed plumbing in this home along with rebuilding the porch steps, replacing a storm door, and installing stepping stones for a level walkway to the trailer. The Michael’s Companies and ASP teamed up to improve the life of a local homeowner. They installed a new handicap accessible toilet, repaired a shower, door and basement sink, secured the steps to the deck, cleaned the yard, and mulched flower beds. Volunteers also replaced the front steps and installed six high efficiency windows.

Other sponsors and volunteers who helped out on Rebuilding Day include Honeywell, Sandy Spring Bank, M&T Bank, Chapelgate, American Contractors, the Howard County Government, Christ Memorial, and Strategic Health Solutions to name a few. All of this great work could not have been accomplished without the generous grants, our sponsors, and our wonderful volunteers. The lives of these homeowners have been changed forever, one owner stating, “I cannot express how happy you have made my entire family. Thank you so much for all that you did for us. Without your help we would have been lost.” For more information on how to sponsor, volunteer, or apply for home repairs please visit our website.