Opinion: Rebuilding Together helps West Valley seniors age in place

For some homeowners fixing a water heater, repairing a leaky roof or modifying an entryway to allow wheelchair access is as simple as calling a contractor or getting out the tools for a DIY project. For others, especially our most vulnerable, tackling home improvement can be daunting.

The last several years have been difficult for a lot of folks; many were pushed to the absolute edge by the pandemic and the high cost of living. Home repairs fell by the wayside as people, particularly older adults, adults with disabilities and low-income seniors, attended to even more pressing needs like food, medicine or paying the mortgage. That meant living in unsafe or unhealthy environments or, in some extreme cases, having to move out with no place else to go.

That’s why I recently proposed partnering with Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley (RTSV) to help qualifying homeowners in my district, which includes Los Gatos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno and Cupertino. I’m gratified that my colleagues unanimously agreed.

RTSV coordinates a network of volunteers, corporate sponsors and subcontractors to provide crucial repairs and accessibility modifications for Santa Clara County homeowners, at no cost to residents. Older adults and individuals living with disabilities form the majority of RTSV’s clients; families with children and veterans also receive services.

Since the organization’s founding in 1991, more than 5,300 projects —an estimated 55,527 repairs — have been completed, providing life-changing support that allowed clients to live more independently at home. RTSV estimates that 11% of their clients would be homeless without their assistance.

As RTSV’s Executive Director Deanne Everton told me, “With a relatively low investment, we can restore a home to a safe and healthy environment for years to come.”

Simply put, it’s the smart thing, the cost-effective thing, the right thing to do what we can to help keep homes functional so people can have a safe place of respite. It’s a vital investment in families and communities.

To be eligible for services, homeowners must have a household income at or below 80% of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Area Median Income for Santa Clara County. Potential clients must also demonstrate a need for home repairs; own and live in the home as their primary residence; reside in RTSV’s service area; and be in good standing with their mortgage and property taxes, as well as the park manager for applicants who live in mobile homes.

RTSV approaches each client individually, tailoring repairs and modifications to the specific need of each household and the condition of the home. Projects may include water heater repair/replacements; furnace repair/replacements; roofing, electrical and plumbing; doors and windows; smoke and carbon monoxide detector installations; debris removal; interior or exterior painting; appliance repair or replacement; wheelchair lifts and ramps; grab bar installation; railings; modifications to allow walkers and bath chairs; and walk-in showers.

On a community level, RTSV helps to preserve affordable housing by keeping folks in their homes — a critical need given the housing crisis in our region. It costs 26 times more to build affordable housing than it does to repair or rehabilitate an existing home. Repairs can improve the quality of life of the client, add to the value of their homes and allow people to stay in their communities.

Having to leave the home where you’ve spent years or even decades is the type of life change that can have a very real and very negative effect on older adults, and for folks living with disabilities. Commonsense, cost-effective approaches like this are the type of practical solutions we should be on the lookout for and support whenever possible.

To learn more about RTSV, visit rebuildingtogethersv.org.

Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian represents the Fifth District, which includes Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Stanford, portions of San Jose and unincorporated communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Sign up for Simitian’s monthly newsletter at supervisorsimitian.org.