Rebuilding homes lost during wildfire is an economically, emotionally, and logistically challenging feat that takes coordination across multiple recovery partners to get families back in homes.
Examples:
Okanogan County Long Term Recovery Group’s Rebuild Program operated for an entire decade, starting Spring 2015. The program replaced dozens of homes with 100% donated funds, grants, and volunteer labor in the absence of government funding. Rebuilding with volunteers was a huge challenge and was coordinated by a professional contractor, the “reconstruction project manager”, to make sure projects went smoothly. 100% of clients in need of a replacement home that fit the criteria for the Rebuild Program received a home after the 2014, 2015, and 2020 disaster declarations.
In addition to the Rebuild Program, many survivors were supported by the funders seated on the Unmet Needs Roundtable. The Unmet Needs Roundtable funders paid for down payments, materials, permitting, dirt work, infrastructure replacement, and more. All of the funded cases were brought forth and vetted by Disaster Case Managers (DCMs) in an anonymous, confidential process.
To celebrate, home dedications, celebrations, and blessings were shared once the client received their Certificate of Occupancy. Volunteers and funders were invited back to share in the celebration.
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