home safety program

Safe At HomeSafe At HomeWhen doing more with less isn’t enough

Presented by:Jerry Zuniga

Safe At Home Program Mgr.Rebuilding Together Silicon Valleyjerry@rebuildingtogether‐sv.org

AgendaAgenda

• Session Goals• Defining Safe At Home (S@H)• Our Program• Examples of Best Practices• Resources

Session GoalsSession Goals

• Safe At Home defined• What we (RTSV) are doing in S@H• What we (RTSV) are doing in S@H• Tips we learned along the wayp g y

Defining Safe At HomeDefining Safe At Home

Safety

AccessibilityAccessibility

What is Safe At Home?What is Safe At Home?

The primary goal of Rebuilding Together’s Safe at Home program is to address home repair and maintenance issues that potentially present a f t i k li it th t ithi thsafety risk or limit the access to or within the 

home.  (as defined by RT National)

What is Safe At Home?What is Safe At Home?

“Program Strategies (as outlined by RT National)”“Program Strategies (as outlined by RT National)”– Be a technical resource for the Rebuilding Together Affiliate Network and 

community partners– Broaden public awareness and build coalitions around the need for home 

safety and accessibility modifications– Provide training and technical assistance on fall prevention methods and 

home safety strategies– Expand our Affiliate Network’s core competency in the delivery of home 

safety interventions– Act as an information and referral resource on fall prevention and home 

safety subjects– Advocate for the needs of low‐income homeowners, particularly older adults, 

people living with disabilities and multi‐generational families

Drivers for S@HDrivers for S@H

RTSV YouRTSV• Safety repairs in timely 

manner

You• Answer these:

– What drives S@H for you? 

• Address projects too small for RD

l d

• Clients, Volunteers, Sponsors?

– “What are your drivers?”• Keeping volunteers engaged 

year‐round– “What is the profile of your 

S@H project?”– “Who will provide repairs for 

• Manage subs…p p

these projects?”– “Who will pay for it?”

Profile of an RTSV S@H ProjectProfile of an RTSV S@H Project

• Safety & Accessibility Repairs• Mandatory Repairs

– CO2 & Smoke detectors

• Energy Efficiency• Deferred Maintenance Repairs 

– i.e. Leaky Faucets, electrical repairsy , p

• Non‐safety Requests

Homeowner priorities, # of repairs, complexity of repairs, volunteers available,  budget, 

etcetc.

Types of FALL PREVENTION

Grab bars, pipe railing, tub rails

Deferred MaintenanceMinor ElectricalMinor PlumbingMinor Carpentry

ypRepairs we provide

half-steps/progressive steps

h t

p

AGING‐IN‐PLACELever knobs (doors and faucets), additional 

lighting

ACCESSIBILITY/ MOBILITY

Wheelchair ramps/lifts, stair lifts, 

shower seat

Non‐Safety

raised toilet seatstransfer seats

HOME & FIRE SAFETYPeepholes, fire/CO2 detectors, seismic strapping (water heater), security doors, l k / l h

Energy Efficiency/WeatherizationCFLs, weather stripping, insulate piping, clean refrigerator coils, UV window film,

b f llocksets, security/motion lights, etc. Water bags for toilet, etc.

RTSV Program Highlights

2011 Program Statistics

200 ProjectsChanged name to S@H

175 Projects

50 Projects

150 ProjectsFull‐Time Tech hired

120 Projects100 Projectsj

Mobile Homes – The NeedMobile Homes  The Need

• 20,000 mobile homes in Santa Clara County (3.2% of all housing units) ou y (3 % o a ous g u s)

• 106 mobile home parks• 87% owner‐occupied• 90%‐95% rent spaces in mobile90% 95% rent spaces in mobile 

home parks• 68% of mobile home residents are 

seniors• Average income of seniors living in 

mobile homes is at 53% of median income

Solving the mobile home issueSolving the mobile home issue

Problems with mobile h (t f )homes (to name a few)

• Non‐conventional Framing• Non‐conventional Plumbingg• Inadequate electrical• Park Managers• Confined space for ADA accessibility• Confined space for ADA accessibility

Mobile Homes – Our ApproachMobile Homes  Our Approach

• Address the familiar• Know your limits• If you have to ask, then NO!• Be prepared to walk away from a repair

RTSV Best PracticesRTSV Best Practices

S@H is a safety program first TreatingStick to the core!S@H is a safety program first. Treating it as a handyman program devalues the program your time and the timethe program, your time and the time of your volunteers

“ ’ h h l”“Don’t re‐invent the wheel”• Leverage RD processes and knowledge where 

iblpossible– Process is transparent for homeowners

“E ol e”“Evolve”• Identify bottlenecks in your process and improve.Ad i h i d d i i• Adapting to changing needs, trends, competition, and laws/regulations, ensures that the program survives and is meeting needs of your clientssurvives and is meeting needs of your clients.

Grooming our volunteers for success…

Right Tools

Consistent Experience

•Proper Planning

•Power Tools•Planning Tools

•Information Tools

Challenge

Right Tools p g•Anticipating Problems•Pre-builds

•Monitor individual progress•Learn new things•Increase responsibility

Happy Volunteers

Example of

Our Mobile Home Step Program

Example of creating a consistentconsistent experience

Ramps (buy vs. build)Ramps (buy vs. build)

Build BuyBuild• ~$25‐40 per linear foot• “One time only”

bl l

Buy• $60‐75 per linear foot• Unlimited reuses

“ ll ” d bl• Susceptible to elements• Permanent Structure ‐ Permit

• “Practically” indestructible• Temporary Structure – No Permit

ResourcesResourcesWho and what we use

Products We LikeMetal Modular Ramps – PVI Industries (www.pviramps.com)**Angled Railing System – Gilpin 6' x 28“ Railing Item #: 14158Grab Bar supplier –Wingits** A ibilit P d t B i M di l S i C (htt // bi d i /)**Accessibility Products –Briggs Medical Service Company (http://www.mabisdmi.com/)**

** - dealer and/or volume pricing required