Rebuilding Together offers free home repairs; applications open to Sept. 30

MILLERTON — Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit that repairs homes of people in need, is accepting applications for free home repairs through Sept. 30.

Homeowners in Dutchess and Ulster County have the opportunity to apply to receive home repairs for 2025 through the Rebuilding Day Program.

“Last year alone, we did ten homes and one not-for-profit facility impacting 16 homeowners and putting $225,000 worth of re-invested capital back into the community,” said Darcy McCourt, Dutchess County’s executive director of Building Together.

This program focuses on repairs necessary to maintain a safe and healthy living environment in someone’s home or a partnered facility. These repairs can include major accessibility modifications, plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical system repairs and stair, roof, porch and other critical structural repairs.

“We have successfully put over $8 million into the community doing repairs on over 1,089 homes, seven non-profit facilities, and having 14,000 volunteers,” McCourt said. “That’s 31 years of history.”

For applicants in the Dutchess County area to be considered, the gross income of a single resident cannot exceed more than $64,300, which is considered 80% of the area’s median income, McCourt said. Each additional person in the household increases the gross income on a sliding scale.

“The current HUD standard in Dutchess County says their home cannot be worth more than $368,000,” McCourt said. “The max amount of repairs we can do is 20% of their home value.”

Rebuilding Together has helped three individuals in Millerton, 14 in Pine Plains and 13 in Stanfordville. It hopes to gain more people through potential events at the Millerton Farmers Market.

“Who has the greatest need financially, who would be a good partner for the need, who has accessibility or medical needs,” McCourt said.

Since COVID-19, the program has been looking for groups of new sponsors willing to do repairs under the guidance of a contractor.

Call 845-454-7310, and to apply visit the website: www.rebuildingtogetherdutchess.org/apply.