Rebuilding Together AmeriCorps Members Celebrate AmeriCorps Week at Safe and Healthy Housing Event

Washington D.C. – March 5, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Members of Rebuilding Together’s AmeriCorps program, CapacityCorps, will celebrate AmeriCorps Week by learning advanced safe and healthy housing principles and implementing those practices in three homes inDurham,North Carolina.

AmeriCorps Works is the theme of AmeriCorps Week 2013. It is the time AmeriCorps members and programs communicate the value and effectiveness of AmeriCorps and the triple bottom line return on investment — for the recipients of service, the people who serve, and the larger community and nation.

With support from ConocoPhillips, 33 members from 17 states will learn and serve together from March 8 -10. Together, they will identify housing related health risks for low-income Durham residents and develop solutions to make their homes safer, healthier and more energy efficient. After the repairs are finished, AmeriCorps members will develop next level strategies to implement back in their home states, multiplying the benefits of the training around the country.

“Leveraging the skill and enthusiasm of AmeriCorps members is a great way to show the power of service, both as a direct service model, and as a cost effective investment to help the nation,” said Martin Costello, Director of National Service Programs at Rebuilding Together. “The homeowners inDurhamcouldn’t ask for a more skilled and dedicated group of people to provide the critical repairs needed to keep them safe and healthy in their homes. ”

The event is being hosted by Rebuilding Together of the Triangle, an organization that works year round to deliver free home repair services to local families in need of assistance inChatham,Durham,Orangeand Wake counties.

Rebuilding Together CapacityCorps is a National*Direct AmeriCorps program with 65 full-time members serving at 35 local affiliates in 20 states. Rebuilding Together AmeriCorps members build the capacity of Rebuilding Together programs so that they become sustainable, effective and efficient in helping additional low-income homeowners in need. As developing housing preservation leaders, these AmeriCorps members serve essential roles in building the capacity of their host sites in areas such as recruiting and managing volunteers, performing direct home repairs, building community partnerships, and creating new programs.

To learn more about Rebuilding Together CapacityCorps program, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org/capacitycorps

ABOUT REBUILDING TOGETHER

Rebuilding Together is a Safe and Healthy Housing organization that believes Community Starts at Home. Our focus provides critical repairs, accessibility modifications and energy efficient upgrades to low-income homes and community centers at no cost to service recipients. Our impact extends beyond the individuals served to revitalize and stabilize vulnerable neighborhoods and communities across the country. Our 200 local affiliates complete 10,000 rebuild projects a year thanks to the efforts of nearly 200,000 volunteers from corporate partners, skilled trades professionals and everyday good citizens. Join us — visit www.RebuildingTogether.org.