In 2010, the Mission launched the Rebuilding Homes program, designed to prevent homelessness by reaching out into greater Boston communities to help with home rebuilding projects for low income, elderly, and disabled residents. Mission program members join with community volunteers to provide 100% of the labor for home improvement projects which commonly include: installing ramps and rails, assistive fixtures, assistive devices, removal/demolition of unsafe structures, fixing walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and windows, cleaning, painting, and other general tasks. Materials and tools are provided from
recipients, or the Mission.


Mission client Julia perfecting her new skills

In the inaugural project of the Rebuilding Homes program, Mission clients and volunteers helped to rebuild rooms in a multi-unit temporary housing structure serving low income residents in Cambridge, Massachusetts. According to team leader Jay Bonetti, rooms were in danger of being condemned and residents evicted due to lack of funding for routine maintenance. After cleaning, repairing and repainting several rooms, residents were able to continue renting their tenancy with a renewed emphasis on cleanliness and routine upkeep. Another project involves repair and restoration of portions of a single family home with an elderly woman. Several more projects have been submitted in response to postings on community bulletin boards and will be addressed in coming weeks.



Rice University students from Texas at our first Project

But it's not only members of the community outside the Mission who we seek to help. Our hope is that, in addition to hands-on job training, the Rebuilding Homes program will offer opportunities for our program members to strengthen ties with community members during their residential recovery at the Mission. As every success builds upon itself in Mission programs, reaching out and helping strangers with basic needs provides healing experiences and builds bridges between program members and healthy homes.

If Rebuilding Homes in our community interests you and you would like to know more about the program or how you can get involved contact Jason Bonetti at Jbonetti@brm.org or 617-338-9000 x 1230.