Rebuilding Together and National Center for Healthy Housing Announce Strategic Alliance at CGI America Meeting in Chicago

Commit to Repairing 2,400 Homes Using Energy+Health Practices and to Training 500 Volunteers

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rebuilding Together, along with the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), today announced their Energy+Health program—committing to make 2,400 older, run-down homes of low-income homeowners, safer, healthier, and more energy efficient. The team will also train 500 Rebuilding Together volunteers nationwide in the Energy+Health practices. 

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090421/REBUILDINGLOGO)

"This integrated initiative will incorporate Energy+Health repairs into Rebuilding Together affiliates' core operations—offering homeowners access to safety, health, and energy measures as part of the rehabilitation services they receive at no-charge," said Gary A. Officer, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. 

The strategic alliance of the two organizations will produce 2,400 Energy+Health home renovations, build the capacity of 50 Rebuilding Together affiliates, and educate 500 Rebuilding Together volunteers over three years. The announcement, which took place at the Clinton Global Initiative event, CGI America 2012, is the first step in the three-year partnership.

"This commitment puts the principles of Energy+Health into practice to protect those at highest risk of hazards in their homes," said Rebecca Morley, Executive Director of NCHH.

Nine Rebuilding Together affiliates have been selected as learning communities to refine and pilot test a set of 60 home modifications. The modifications are designed to prevent debilitating and costly injuries such as falls, health problems such as asthma, and enable elderly residents to age in place. Energy efficiency upgrades will help residents conserve energy and save limited dollars currently spent on heating and cooling.

Learn more about the Energy+Health program and the types of repairs that can be made to improve a home at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8siyq4g1t4&feature=youtu.be

About the National Center for Healthy Housing: 
The National Center for Healthy Housing is the preeminent nonprofit dedicated to creating safe and healthy housing for America's families. It has trained over 35,000 individuals in lead-safe and healthy housing practices since 2005, and its research provides the scientific basis for major federal policies and programs. NCHH develops scientifically valid and practical strategies to make homes safe from hazards, to alert low- income families about housing-related health risks, and to help them protect their children. Learn more at www.nchh.org. You can also follow NCHH on Twitter @nchh or become a fan on Facebook at Facebook.com/HealthyHousing.

About Rebuilding Together:
Rebuilding Together believes in a safe and healthy home for every person. Rebuilding Together provides critical repairs to an existing home, addressing both structural issues and those that affect the health of the homeowners. House by house, block by block, we work with our nearly 200 affiliates, 200,000 volunteers, who are skilled tradespersons, corporate partners and everyday citizens, to repair homes, to stabilize and revitalize communities. For nearly 25 years, we have seen the benefits when people remain in their homes: lives are improved and communities are revived. See the difference we make at www.RebuildingTogether.org. You can also follow Rebuilding Together on Twitter @rebldgtogthr or become a fan on Facebook at Facebook.com/RebuildingTogether.

About CGI America
President Clinton established the Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America) to address economic recovery in the United States. CGI America brings together leaders in business, government, and civil society to generate and implement commitments to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, foster innovation, and support workforce development in the United States. Since its first meeting in June 2011, CGI America participants have made more than 100 commitments valued at $11.8 billion. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will improve the lives of three million people, create or fill more than 150,000 jobs, and invest and loan $354 million to small and medium enterprises in the United States. The 2012 CGI America meeting will take place June 7-8 in Chicago. To learn more, visit cgiamerica.org.

About the Clinton Global Initiative
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date CGI members have made more than 2,100 commitments, which are already improving the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $69.2 billion.

CGI's Annual Meeting is held each September in New York City. CGI also convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United States, and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

SOURCE Rebuilding Together