A leaking roof, a door that will not lock or a window that no longer closes can be a nuisance for one family and a real danger for another. For an older homeowner on a fixed income, or a veteran living with a disability, small repairs left too long can turn into the reason they have to leave a house they have owned for decades. That problem is what Rebuilding Together works on, and it is why The Window Source announced a national initiative with the organization in 2021.
Who Rebuilding Together is
Rebuilding Together is a national nonprofit that repairs and modifies homes for people who cannot afford to do the work themselves. It operates through a network of local affiliates, and each affiliate chooses its own projects and recruits its own volunteers, donors and trade partners.
The work ranges widely. One house might need a wheelchair ramp and grab bars. Another needs new wiring, a water heater, or doors and windows that seal and lock. The aim is a home that is safe to live in, so the owner can stay there. When a neighborhood has several homes repaired in the same area, the effect reaches beyond the individual houses.
What The Window Source announced
The Window Source is a network of locally owned replacement window and door businesses, and The Window Source of Austin is one of those locations. When the national initiative was announced, it laid out a few ways the brand and its customers could support Rebuilding Together:
- A portion of sales across the brand would go toward the nonprofit’s housing repair work.
- Customers would have the option to round up their purchase and give the difference to their local Rebuilding Together affiliate.
- Individual location owners could choose to donate products, know-how or volunteer time to specific repair projects run by their local affiliate.
The focus was on homeowners who need help most, including lower-income households, seniors and veterans.
Why windows and doors fit this work
Safe housing comes down to some basic things: a roof that keeps the rain out, wiring that will not start a fire, and an envelope that holds the weather back. Windows and doors are a big part of that envelope.
Consider what a failing window means in Central Texas. In summer, single-pane glass on a west wall can make a room hard to bear, and an older resident without good air conditioning feels that heat more than most. On the occasional freezing night, a gap around a sash or a door that does not latch lets cold air pour in. In winter and spring, loose seals let cedar and oak pollen into the house, which matters to anyone with allergies or breathing problems.
Security is the other half. An exterior door with a rotted frame or a lock that no longer engages leaves the occupant exposed. A window that will not stay shut, or one painted closed so it cannot be opened in an emergency, is a hazard either way. Fixing those problems is exactly the kind of work our installers do every day, so it is a natural place for a window and door company to help.
Staying in place matters
Austin has grown fast, and many long-time residents in older central neighborhoods and surrounding towns live in homes that have aged along with them. For a homeowner who owns the house outright, staying put is often the most affordable option they have. A few key repairs can make that possible for years longer. Homeownership also builds wealth that families pass down, and keeping a house in good repair protects that.
How you can get involved
Rebuilding Together depends on volunteers as much as on donations. You do not need trade skills to help. Affiliates need people to paint, clean up yards, haul debris and help with simple fixes alongside experienced crews. If you are a contractor or work in the trades, your skills are especially valuable.
To find the affiliate that serves your area and see how to volunteer or give, visit rebuildingtogether.org. If you are a homeowner who needs help with repairs, the same site explains how to apply through a local affiliate.
If you are a customer of ours and would like to know how the program works with your purchase today, just ask when we visit.
Talk to us
Have questions about the program, or about replacement windows and doors for your own home? Call The Window Source of Austin at (512) 524-9455 or reach out through our contact page to set up a free in-home estimate.