We are thrilled to announce that we will be partnering with Rebuilding Together National and AARP Foundation on a new pilot to help even more homeowners age-in-place. Rebuilding Together Twin Cities is one of 12 Rebuilding Together affiliates selected to participate in this exciting pilot program, which is based off of our Safe at Home program. The Safe at Home program focuses on providing low-income homeowners with free home safety and accessibility modifications. Under this new pilot, we will be able to serve moderate-income homeowners who live above 50 percent of their area median income. These homeowners, who would usually not meet the financial criteria for our free home modification services, can now quality for home repairs based on a sliding payment scale. The proceeds from this fee-for-service program will go towards providing more low-income families with free home repairs, allowing us to help a greater number of homeowners.
We will also be partnering with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) on this pilot. Through its national partnership with Rebuilding Together, AOTA will provide insights into prioritizing repairs so that we can ensure that our repairs allow recipients to age-in-place in a safe and healthy home.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the majority of falls happen in or around the home. This makes providing fall prevention home improvements, like grab bars, all the more important. Falls are the most common cause of injury related deaths, nonfatal injuries, and trauma related hospital visits for older adults. These injuries cost the U.S. over $19 billion a year, a number that will rise as the baby boomer generation ages.
The other Rebuilding Together affiliates participating in the pilot are in: Sacramento, CA; Clay County, MO; Alexandria, VA; Central Ohio; Colorado Springs, CO; Milwaukee, WI; Chicago, IL; Oklahoma City, OK; Pittsburgh, PA; Silicon Valley, CA; and Omaha, NE.
