For 27 years, RTSEM has served low-income homeowners in Oakland County and Southeast Michigan by mobilizing volunteer teams to provide critically needed home repairs and modifications. As a local nonprofit organization, RTSEM is grounded in our community, partnering each year with about 40 small businesses, corporations, civic and faith-based organizations to mobilize more than 1,000 volunteers to assist 60 low-income homeowner households per year. Since 1992, RTSEM has leveraged $8 million in volunteer labor to help 1,102 low-income households.

Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan provides no cost home repairs to qualified homeowners in order to provide them with a warm, safe, dry and independent living environment. It is our belief that every homeowner should be given the opportunity to live in a safe and healthy home.

Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan (RTSEM) is one of 129 affiliates in 39 states, which mobilize volunteers to make critical home repairs at no charge to help low-income homeowners, veterans, seniors, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable families with children.

Rebuilding Together is the nation’s leading organization bringing volunteers and communities together to improve the lives of low-income homeowners. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., Rebuilding Together puts the Principles of Healthy Homes into practice to correct health and safety hazards in older, high-risk homes through a volunteer-based delivery system of unmatched cost effectiveness.

Service Areas
Oakland County

Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan began in Oakland County 27 years ago and we remain committed to serving its residents. For more information, please give us a call: 248-482-8061

District 4 map red

We are currently accepting applications from Detroit homeowners in neighborhoods in city council District 4. Zip codes in District 4 can be found here. For more information, please give us a call: 313-766-4010

macomb county

We are not accepting homeowner applications from Macomb County at this time. Our strategic plan outlines expansion to serve the tri-county area in 2021.

Eligibility for Service
  • The applicant must own the home.
  • The applicant must live in the home.
  • The applicant must be current on property taxes for the home.
  • The applicant must be current on mortgage payments for the home.
  • The applicant must have a current homeowner’s insurance policy for the property.
  • The home must be a free-standing, single-family home; we are not able to serve rental properties, condos, or mobile homes.
  • The applicant or a permanent household resident must meet at least one of the following qualifications:

    • Be a senior citizen (defined as 60 years of age or older)
    • Receive Federal disability benefits
    • Be a veteran of the United States Armed Forces (as evidenced by a DD Form 214)
    • Have children living in the home
  • The applicant’s household must meet income guidelines. Applicant households with an annual income of up to 80% of HUD’s area median income are eligible for our services. Applicant households with an annual income of up to 50% of HUD’s area median income will be prioritized for our services. HUD’s area median income guidelines are calculated annually and can be found here.

income limits 2020
Programs

Southeast Michigan Rebuild Days

Southeast Michigan Rebuild Days take place throughout the Spring and Fall and are planned in conjunction with a community partner who sponsors the project and provides the volunteers. These projects are typically completed in one day with an average team of 30 people. This program allows us to serve homeowners in need throughout the year rather than just in April.

National Rebuilding Day

On the last Saturday in April every year, affiliates across the nation participate in home rebuild projects in their area for National Rebuild Day. On April 28, 2018, RTSEM completed 25 major home repair projects with the support of 1,000 community volunteers.

Handyman Program

Our Handyman Program provides homeowners with non-emergency repairs that utilize a team of 3-4 volunteers, take less than four hours and less than $500 to complete. RTSEM implemented the Handyman Repair Program in 2012, since then we have completed 291 handyman repairs. Repairs include replacing faucets, replacing doorknobs, installing grab bars, and installing smoke detectors.

Homeowner FAQ
Thanks to the generous support of our funders, homeowners do not pay anything to our agency for the repairs they receive.
Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan is currently accepting applications for home improvement projects for all of Oakland County and for the neighborhoods in District 4 in Detroit. We are not currently accepting applications for the rest of Wayne County or for Macomb County. While we know there is a great need for home repair services in Southeast Michigan, our current funding sources and staff capacity limit the number of projects we can complete in a given year. To learn more about our applications or to get the most up-to-date information about your application’s status, please call our office at 248.482.8061.
Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan is committed to helping homeowners remain in their homes. When this occurs, the possibility for gentrification decreases, parents are able to raise their children in a healthy environment, and older adults are able to age in place. Our qualifications for service are an attempt to help serve the most vulnerable populations in our area, given the resources that we have available.
Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan receives funding from a variety of grants and sponsorships. We host volunteer groups from a variety of local business and civic partners, and local contractors support our work through in-kind donations of labor or materials. Click here to learn more about volunteering with us. Click here to learn more about other ways to support our work.
Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan’s model of service reflects the belief in neighbors helping fellow neighbors. That is, most of our work is completed by skilled and unskilled volunteer groups who live and work in the same communities as the people we serve. Occasionally, professional contractors are hired to execute work that is too complex or extensive for a normal volunteer team to complete. Volunteers are always supervised by an experienced and trained volunteer or staff member.
Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan is unable to complete repairs at homes with significant hoarding or clutter issues, significant pest control issues, serious water damage or mold contamination, intensive landscaping or tree removal needs, major foundation issues, extensive lead-based paint contamination or other hazardous materials, or evidence of drug use, criminal activity or mistreatment of animals. We reserve the right to decline any application that is beyond the agency’s scope of funding or expertise, that may expose staff or volunteers to dangerous conditions, or that Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan deems unsuitable for any reason.
When you fill out an application to Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan, you must declare the income of every person who lives in your home who is over the age of 18, even extended family members and roommates. Whether a specific source of income will count toward your household income will depend on your specific living arrangement. In general, all income will be counted. Income includes wages from jobs, self-employment, Social Security payments, pension payments and any other regularly recurring source of funds in your household.
When you fill out an application to Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan, you must write in the name of any co-owner. Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan will require some information from other property owners, whether or not they currently live in the home with you. You should inform any co-owners when you apply for services that we will need their cooperation to get your application approved.