Preserving a Healthy Home

Abstract

About 5.5 million Americans own and live in houses that are deteriorating. They do not choose to live this way. They simply cannot afford to fix what is wrong. Unfortunately economic realities demand that people sometimes must choose between purchasing life-sustaining medicine and fixing a rotting roof. As the housing stock and population age, the need for programs such as Christmas in April increases. Christmas in April is a solution to many who have nowhere else to turn because services are provided at no cost to those being helped. The mission of Christmas in April is to rehabilitate the houses of low-income homeowners, typically people who have worked hard for their piece of the American dream and are now watching it fall apart around them. Christmas in April was borne out of the fundamental belief that all people deserve to live in decent housing, as well as recognition of the need across the nation for such rehabilitation services. In particular our work targets the elderly and disabled so they can continue to live in warmth, safety, and independence. This is all done in partnership with the community. Our work is volunteerdriven and is provided free of charge. In the 10 years of its existence, Christmas in April (USA), the national organization, nonsectarian and nonprofit, has grown from 13 to 225 affiliates, with a presence in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The work of these affiliates impacts not only on individual homeowners, but also provides substantial community revitalization and preservation. Christmas in April has multiplied in size more than 17 times since 1988 because the need for services continues to grow and because Christmas in April is an idea that works. Since its origin, more than one million Christmas in April volunteers have rehabilitated 37,000 homes and nonprofit facilities, accounting for $479 million in improvements. And while Christmas in April's greatest impact has been on substandard houses, more than 700 schools, nonprofit facilities, and day care centers have also been rehabilitated, enriching entire communities. This neighbor-helping-neighbor effort brings together people from across all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic communities. In the process, it preserves and revitalizes neighborhoods. Christmas in April connects people and communities in energizing ways. Our force of one million volunteers makes Christmas in April the leading national volunteer home-rehabilitation organization. Our work is an ongoing 12-month effort. It takes an entire year of fund-raising, planning, and organizing to prepare for the annual Christmas in April workdays. Each local affiliate is an independent 501-(c)-(3) corporation with its own Board of Directors. These boards have a major job, for this work is serious and labor intensive. Each Christmas in April affiliate is basically running a home improvement company, but these companieswork for people who have lost hope, not an easy clientele. While they still may have their dignity, their homes are without warmth, comfort, and safety. Christmas inApril relies on skilled trades people to do the roofing, carpentry, plumbing, and electric work, but asks them to do their work as volunteers, without pay. Then unskilled folks are recruited and the skilled folks are asked to lead them. Finally, we ask everyone to do his or her work in a compressed time frame. It's not easy but it works! THE BIG PICTURE This society, in 2000, faces a bad time, in many ways. We witness the collapse of values and commitment. It occurs at the top-but it also takes place in our communities. Obligation and commitment seem to be out. One reason for the decline in ethical values is that the very soil in which they are nurtured, the family and the neighborhood, is being eroded. Individuals without a context of community and shared values lose the conviction that they can influence the events and circumstances of their lives or the world around them, and the obvious consequences are apathy, frustration, and even anger. …