On April 27, 2002, 16 Omaha HUD staff, their children and friends joined with local volunteers to take part in the highly successful Omaha Rebuilding Together Project. HUD volunteers worked side-by-side with young men and women from across the city to help rehabilitate homes of elderly homeowners throughout the city, including the home of Orbie and Carolyn Tate.

Formerly known as "Christmas in April," Rebuilding Together is a nationwide but community-based rehabilitation program created to help low-income elderly and disabled homeowners. Project activities can include virtually anything necessary for the family's home: plumbing and electrical repairs or replacement; repair and replacement of flooring; repair of physical damage and deterioration of the home; restoring walls and ceilings; interior and exterior painting; and even complex or major repairs requiring professional assistance.

HUD Coordinator Terry Gratz and Multifamily Director Steve Gage pay a courtesy call on Carolyn and Orbie Tate, the home owners.

The primary goal of the Rebuilding Together Project is to help revitalize low-income homes including help for residents who are unable to afford or undertake important needed repairs, and also to improve the home's overall appearance - restoring the dream of homeownership and helping the neighborhood, too. The Omaha HUD team's service to the Tates included a great deal of major maintenance, including extensive painting, restoring and replacing floor tiles, and work to enhance the home's safety, including installing locks on windows.

The original Christmas in April Omaha program was established in July 1995, and its first "Rebuilding Day" was Saturday April 4th, 1996. The first year was an organizing year, and included rehabilitation of five homes. As more and more volunteers joined the ranks, in 1997, 10 homes were repaired; in 1998 19 homes, in 1999 29 homes, in 2000 36 homes, and in April, 2001, men and women, boys and girls from throughout the Omaha area completed significant repairs on 26 homes.

In October 2000, the Omaha Board of Directors officially adopted the new name of "Rebuilding Together," which was the name selected by the national organization in Washington, DC. Each home selected for rehab work is "sponsored" by a team of volunteers associated with a particular business, church, government entity, or service organization. The program culminates every year on National Rebuilding Day - this year, April 27th. Through the planning and coordination of the Christmas in April Board and staff, massive amounts of volunteer labor, skilled trades professionals, donated materials and supplies, and financial resources have been directed at the needs of low-income homeowners.

The organization and its selfless volunteers are truly "home grown." (Above, HUD and other volunteers at the Tate's home.) The Criteria and Selection Committee in Omaha is made up of board members and human service professionals in the housing, information, referral, and community support fields. This local committee sets criteria that match the needs of Omaha Metro Area homeowners, and carefully reviews all applications for eligibility to make the best use of their resources.

To apply for assistance from Omaha's Rehabilitating Together program, applicants generally must have a household income below 50% of median in the Douglas County, Nebraska, SMSA. Not everyone receives assistance, but those selected have the greatest need and the smallest means, with the work to be done having the greatest "value added." For all applicants for the 2001 program, the average income was $1,082 per month, and the head of household's average age was 69 years old; homeowners selected for the rehabilitation program had an average income of just $972 (with an average of $85 in non-reimbursed medical expenses per month) and the head of household's average age was 72 year old.

Omaha HUD staff are proud to serve their community as HUD employees  - but on "Rebuilding Together Day" - and for other good deeds throughout the year - the satisfaction of serving as a volunteer and giving hands-on assistance to a family in need adds a whole new dimension to the meaning of "proud to serve."