In 2001, each affiliate will rehabilitate from three to 400 houses and non-profit facilities. Some affiliates organize their work in a one-day blitz while others work over several weekends. The unskilled volunteers join with skilled tradespeople, painting, cleaning, and weatherizing and doing carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work. Homeowners must be low-income and elderly, disabled, or families with children, and unable to do the work themselves. The site selection process takes place locally, within broad national guidelines.
Criteria differ slightly from affiliate to affiliate.
Individual families are referred through neighborhood associations, churches, synagogues, community organizations, and service groups, or by self-referral. All repairs are free for homeowners. Labor and many supplies are typically donated. Homeowners and family members are asked to welcome the volunteers into their homes and work alongside them to the extent possible. Our work is done with families and neighborhoods, not for them.