Teaming Up with Wells Fargo for Real Estate Owned Program

We recently joined efforts with Wells Fargo to help Twin Cities residents find safe, affordable homes through our new Real Estate Owned (REO) Program.  Through this collaborative effort, Wells Fargo donated a foreclosed home to Rebuilding Together Twin Cities.  We renovated the home and worked with a real estate agent to sell the home to a low-to-moderate income buyer (household income between 80% and 120% of area median income).  The buyer was required to complete a Homebuyer Education class and show certificate of completion before closing. The buyer is also required to live in the home; it cannot be re-sold to an investor.  The proceeds from the sale of the home are returned to Rebuilding Together Twin Cities’ operating fund, allowing us to continue to make critical home repairs for homeowners in need.

“We are happy to partner with Wells Fargo to increase homeownership opportunities for low-income families,” said Kathy Greiner, our Executive Director.  “These renovated homes have a positive impact on the neighborhoods, and the proceeds from the sales allow us to continue our mission: keep homeowners living independently and safely in the homes and neighborhoods they love.”

“Wells Fargo is proud to support the work of Rebuilding Together to help create affordable and sustainable housing opportunities for low-to-moderate income families,” said Kimberly Jackson, head of the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation.

The first house renovated and sold through the REO program is located in Richfield, Minn.  Rebuilding Together Twin Cities has plans to renovate and sell a total of four homes this fiscal year.

National Rebuilding Day Was a Huge Success!

Thanks again to the hundreds of volunteers who braved the rain to help 25 families in need on April 28th for National Rebuilding Day!  Thanks to your efforts, we were able to help homeowners like Erin, a proud owner of her Camden Neighborhood home.  Erin’s grandson recently began living with her, and because of the expense of taking care of him, she is not able to afford repairs to her home.  In her thank you note to the volunteers who worked with her, Erin wrote, “Thank you for allowing my house to become more of a home.”

We would also like to thank U.S. Senator Al Franken, who came out to meet volunteers and one of the homeowners we helped that day, as well as MN Housing Commissioner Mary Tingerthal, State Senator Linda Higgins, State Representative Bobby Joe Champion, Minneapolis City Council Member Don Samuels, and Rebecca Lucero from Congressman Keith Ellison’s office.

Finally, we would like to thank our sponsors and partners for National Rebuilding Day, including Wells Fargo, Builders Association of the Twin Cities Foundation, Honeywell, MidCountry Bank, US Bank, On Site Sanitation, Valspar, Catholic United Financial, Lowe’s, Caribou Coffee, Subway, CitiCargo & Storage, Target, The Big Day of Serving, Dunwoody College of Technology, Tree Trust, Mortenson Construction, Ironwood Carpentry, Neighborhood Improvement Program, American Public Media, Coca-Cola, Cookie Cart, Webster/Windsor Insulation and ABC Supply Company.

Volunteers from Wells Fargo Help Two North Minneapolis Homeowners

On August 19th and 20th, Rebuilding Together Twin Cities partnered with Wells Fargo to repair the homes of two homeowners in North Minneapolis:

Chloe and Donald have lived in their home for more than 45 years.  All of their children and grandchildren live nearby, and Chloe often watches her granddaughter in their home.  Donald is a veteran of the Korean War, and he’s suffered from some health problems in recent years.

Kaye is a retired nurse and special education teacher.  She was born and raised in North Minneapolis and raised her two kids in her home.  However, staying in her home has become increasingly difficult for Kaye due to some health and mobility issues.

The Wells Fargo volunteer teams made a variety of repairs for these homeowners, ensuring that they can continue to live independently in safe and warm homes.  We would like to thank Wells Fargo for their continued support and hard work to help homeowners in need.  We look forward to partnering with you again!

Remembering 9/11

On September 10th, more than 250 volunteers joined Rebuilding Together Twin Cities and HandsOn Twin Cities to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  Senator Amy Klobuchar spoke at the event, along with Brian Dunn, Best Buy CEO, and Kathleen West, civic leader.

Volunteers spent the morning cleaning and polishing tribute markers along Victory Memorial Drive; gardening at Loring Elementary School; planting trees and shrubs at Theodore Wirth Park; drawing and writing on a Freedom Banner; and writing letters to the troops.

The volunteer event on 9/10 was the culmination of a larger initiative by Rebuilding Together Twin Cities and HandsOn Twin Cities to engage 1,000 volunteers to provide critical home repairs and services for 30 families in need, including several veterans and their families.

Thanks again to everyone who was able to join us and a huge thank you to sponsors of projects connected with this event, including Ameriprise Financial, CB Richard Ellis, GLS Companies, Honeywell, Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation, Mosaic Company, Sears Heroes at Home, and Wells Fargo; and sponsors of the commemoration event, including the HandsOn Network, Best Buy, and Target.