Rebuilding Together Chattanooga Receives Wells Fargo Grant for St. Elmo Home Repair Project

CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE (Nov. 23, 2020) -- Rebuilding Together, a leading national nonprofit organization that provides critical home repairs to homeowners in need at no cost to them, announced a collaboration with Wells Fargo. Through grants provided by Wells Fargo, Rebuilding Together affiliates were able to repair homes for people in need throughout the country.

Rebuilding Together Chattanooga received a $10,000 grant as a part of the Wells Fargo Builds℠ program. The grant from Wells Fargo helped Rebuilding Together Chattanooga renovate a bathroom, replace a roof, install decking, and paint at a home in the St. Elmo neighborhood. While contractors primarily were used for this project due to COVID-19, a small number of neighborhood volunteers adhering to COVID-19 precautions were able to help the family with yard clean-up as well.

“The investment from Wells Fargo not only allowed us to provide this family with a safer and healthier home, it also helped to preserve an important legacy in the historic St. Elmo neighborhood," said Cal Boroughs, chair of Rebuilding Together Chattanooga.

“From a historical perspective, thinking of the blood, sweat, and tears, daddy put into the house when he built it. Being able to hold on to his legacy and repair it to the point that it is really means a lot. Look, we are surrounded by all these big houses. When we were growing up, they weren't here. To live amongst these giant houses, recently remodeled, repainted houses, it restores my dad’s legacy, and it gives [my sister and nephew] a safe place to live. Rebuilding Together Chattanooga’s efforts helps take the sting out of gentrification," said Mr. K, the homeowner.

“The investment from Wells Fargo not only allowed us to provide this family with a safer and healthier home, it also helped to preserve an important legacy in the historic St. Elmo neighborhood," said Cal Boroughs, chair of Rebuilding Together Chattanooga.

About the Wells Fargo Builds℠ Program
As part of the Wells Fargo Builds℠ program, Wells Fargo is investing more than $1.3 million in Rebuilding Together’s work, bringing tangible assistance and aid to homeowners in underserved communities throughout the country. Last year, Wells Fargo Foundation made a $1 billion commitment to address the U.S. housing affordability crisis through 2025. The Wells Fargo Foundation will support Rebuilding Together’s work to provide critical home repairs that increase the health and safety of community residents across the country. Those repairs include roof and water heater replacements, plumbing and electrical updates, the installation of grab bars, handrails and ramps among many other repairs that follow Rebuilding Together’s 25 Safe and Healthy Homes Priorities.

About Rebuilding Together Chattanooga
Rebuilding Together Chattanooga is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in Tennessee; a part of the national network of Rebuilding Together affiliates; and a member of Venture Forward. Rebuilding Together Chattanooga's mission is: Repairing homes ~ Revitalizing communities ~ Rebuilding lives. Learn more at www.rtchattanooga.org.