As an organization, Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan is deeply connected to our communities and works every day to improve the safety and health of our neighbors. In these times of crisis, our work of providing critical home repairs to ensure the safety and health of our low-income neighbors including families with young children, seniors, people with disabilities, and other at-risk populations is needed more than ever. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), community preparedness for COVID-19 should include older adults and people with disabilities and the organizations that support them, to ensure their needs are met.
Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan serves these incredibly vulnerable populations by providing critical health and safety repairs to allow these groups to remain safely in their home. We are monitoring the spread of COVID-19, taking precautions to protect high-risk individuals and families and preparing for increased demand and new ways of delivering our services. The costs and efforts associated with providing these services and protecting these vulnerable populations from COVID-19 require additional funding. Everyone in this country should have a decent place to live, especially in times of crisis, and that is why we are asking for your help.
Our Community Work During the Spread of COVID-19
As a cautionary measure we have decided to postpone volunteer projects altogether until the virus outbreak subsides. But we cannot and will not let the threat of COVID-19 prevent seniors, low-income families with young children and people with disabilities from accessing emergency home repairs they need to stay safe in their home during these unprecedented times. Your support can help secure the resources needed to efficiently serve the most vulnerable members of our communities, including help with:
- Making urgent emergency home repairs
- Providing critical home repairs and modifications to allow older adults or other at-risk populations to shelter in place safely at home (this could be adding an AC unit to a bedroom or modifying a home to prevent falls)
- Performing status checks on seniors and other at-risk clients by phone and helping them access additional resources such as food and medicine
- Providing home repairs so a moderately ill person can come home from the hospital and quarantine at home, which serves to ease the burden on local hospitals
Support Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan today to help us meet the increased demand for critical home repairs that keep our seniors and families safe and healthy. Donated funds will provide home repairs and modifications that will allow elderly, low-income and other at-risk populations to safely shelter in place, perform status checks on elderly populations and help them access food and medicine. Together we can work to support our neighbors in need and prevent visits to already overwhelmed hospitals.
Following CDC Recommendations
We at Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and are actively consulting with national disaster relief organizations and federal and local health departments, including closely following the CDC recommendations. If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or because of a serious long-term health problem, it is important you to take actions to reduce risk of getting sick with the disease. Populations at higher risk of getting sick from COVID-19 should:
- Stock up on supplies
- Take everyday precautions to keep space between themselves and others
- When out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash hands often
- Avoid crowds as much as possible
- Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel
- Stay home as much as possible to further reduce risk of being exposed
Every person if they get sick should have a plan to:
- Consult with their health care provider to monitoring for symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
- Stay in touch with others by phone or email and if needed ask for help from friends, family, neighbors, community health workers, etc.
- Have an alternative caregiver in case the primary one gets sick
Many seniors, families with young children and other at-risk populations in our communities depend on services and support provided in their homes or community to maintain their health and independence. Together we can work to support our neighbors in need and prevent visits to already overwhelmed hospitals.
Click here to view local resources in Southeast Michigan that can support you, your family and friends. RTSEM is about neighbors helping neighbors and now is the time we must stick together to support one another.
