SAFE AND HEALTHY HOMES FOR ALL Brent Suski – Program Manager Rebuilding Together Twin Cities Healthy Homes and Communities 2 nd Annual Statewide Convening Alliance for Healthy Homes and Communities October 1, 2013

Introduction Partnership Outcomes Lessons Rebuilding Together Twin Cities brings volunteers and communities together to improve the homes and lives of low-income homeowners. We provide critical home repairs for homeowners in need, particularly older adults, individuals living with disabilities, families with children, and active and retired members of the armed services. This service ensures that these homeowners live independently in safe and healthy homes.

…provides home safety and accessibility modifications for low-income homeowners who are older adults or are living with a disability. This program focuses on keeping people healthy and independent in their homes by: 1. Preventing Falls 2. Increasing General Safety 3. Reducing Fire Risks Introduction

Stay Focused: RTTC Identified these tasks with O.T. Students that allow us to create healthier homes by prioritizing: 1.Fall Prevention (Bathrooms/Stairs and Hallways) 2.General Accessibility 3.Fire Safety and Security One-third of Americans aged 65+ falls each year. RTTC Safe At Home Goals: Complete 70+ Projects in the 7 County Metro 35 in Minneapolis and western counties 35 in St. Paul and eastern counties

Partnership Homeownership Rates by Race in Minnesota “In a decade split between housing boom and bust, Asians in Minnesota -- of which Hmong are the largest ethnicity -- were the only racial group to show an increase in home ownership rates.” (Smetanka, 2011) Identifying a Need … Fostering Partnership

Partnership ESNDC is a 35 year old locally governed community development corporation (CDC), whose mission is to foster a safe, diverse, and thriving neighborhood by engaging the community to create, affordable housing and support commercial development. Goal: Substantially renovate 55 homes. Common Goal: Seek to reach out to the East St. Paul, Hmong community in culturally-sensitive ways, to help keep members of the community – particularly older adults, people living with disabilities and multi-generational families safe in their homes. RTTC’s Safe at Home program assesses and completes home safety and accessibility modification needs for low- income homeowners who are older adults or are living with a disability. Goal: Complete 35+ Safe at Home Projects in St. Paul and surrounding counties

Partnership Common Goal: Seek to reach out to the East St. Paul, Hmong community in culturally-sensitive ways to help keep members of the community – particularly older adults, people living with disabilities and multi-generational families safe in their homes. Objectives: 1.Resiliency - Informally surveying existing service providers to identify additional partners. 2.Outreach - Preparing culturally-specific material regarding home safety and accessibility issues to be made available through Rebuilding Together and community partners. 3.Training – Teach partner staff to identify and educate their clients about home safety and accessibility needs. 4.Implementation - Recruiting community volunteers to provide no-cost safety and accessibility services on three subject properties

Outcomes Resiliency Informally surveying existing service providers to identify additional partners. Resiliency Currently, only Rebuilding Together Twin Cities and the East Side Neighborhood Development Company are participating in this targeted partnership. Identifying and building relationships with additional partners is an on going process. Developing this network is essential to ensure that this healthy homes initiative does not disappear.

Outcomes Outreach Preparing culturally-specific material regarding home safety and accessibility issues to be made available through Rebuilding Together and community partners. Outreach Remember our Safe At Home Task List?

Outcomes Outreach Preparing culturally-specific material regarding home safety and accessibility issues to be made available through Rebuilding Together and community partners. Outreach RTTC and ESNDC have translated the task list and cover sheet for the Safe at Home Program. Currently, our organizations are exploring additional ways in which to educate potential clients about the services that are offered by Rebuilding Together. Tub Tuav Chav Dej Tub Tauv Da Dej Cha Chav Dej Da Dej Xov Peb Txog Dawm Lub Rooj Zaum Tiab Hauv Qab Ntaiv tshem tawm thiab nruab tub tuav ntaiv Tshem Tawm Ib Co Ua Los Ua Raug Koj Dawm Kho Tub Rau Khaub Ncaws Nyem Raug Qhov Rooj Nruab Qhov Rooj Kov Kho Ntsuas Phoo Nyob Qhov Rooj Thiab Qhov Rai Nruab Smoke Thiab Carbon Monoxide Ntes Nruab Sab Nraum Zoov Teeb Nruab Thiab Hloov Qhov Rooj Tswb

Outcomes Training Teach partner staff to identify and educate their clients about home safety and accessibility needs. Training At the start of this partnership, Rebuilding Together provided a brief training and educational materials to the staff at ESNDC. They needed to understand the services we offer and what to look for in a potential client and their home. In just over 3 months RTTC has received 14 quality applications from ESNDC.

Outcomes Implementation Recruiting community volunteers to provide no-cost safety and accessibility services on three subject properties Implementation We know the need is great, based upon the number of applications RTTC received, however, only one project has been completed. We have needed to remain flexible to actually complete the work. We need to train additional volunteers and translators to accompany them.

Outcomes Implementation Recruiting community volunteers to provide no-cost safety and accessibility services on three subject properties Implementation Completed Tasks: Grab Bars Raised Toilet Seat Non Slip Shower Treads Interior Handrail Doorbell Smoke and CO Detectors Motion Detecting Light

Lessons Lessons Learned Stay Focused - Understand the types of services that your programs can offer well Build a Network - Identify a Need to Foster Partnership (Hopefully Multiple Ones) Create Beneficial Relationships - Develop a common goals that support all partners Be Flexible – Processes will need development, revision, and adaptation

Resources East Side Neighborhood Development Company, Inc. esndc.org Egbert, Andi. (2013, September 10). “How Demographic Changes will Alter the Social Landscape.” MN State Demographic Center. Department of Administration National Council on Aging Rebuilding Together Twin Cities rebuildingtogether-twincities.org Smetanka, M. J. (2011, July 14). Hmong follow earlier immigrants to the suburbs. StarTribune. Retrieved from Resources