Team Rubicon and The Salvation Army Announce Partnership to Rebuild Homes and Lives in Collier County
The organizations will work together to rebuild 30 homes damaged by Hurricane Irma
Naples, FL (September 19, 2018) – Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster response organization, and The Salvation Army officially kicked off their partnership to help rebuild lives and homes that were impacted by Hurricane Irma. Over the next year, as part of Team Rubicon’s South Florida Rebuild Program, the two organizations will work together to identify and rebuild 30 homes damaged by Hurricane Irma in Collier County, Florida.
For its piece of the partnership, The Salvation Army will identify homes that meet established criteria for assistance as well as handle client services and case management. Team Rubicon, led by the military veterans of Cohort 8 of their Clay Hunt Fellows Program, will manage the construction and rebuild of these 30 homes.
“The Salvation Army has a long history of providing disaster relief and recovery around the world,” says Ashley Jones, Director of Social Services and Disaster Recovery for The Salvation Army. “Although it has now been one year since Hurricane Irma impacted Collier County, so many of our residents continue to rebuild. We are proud to partner with Team Rubicon in an effort to make sure all those in the community who need help receive it.”
In March 2018, Team Rubicon launched its home rebuild pilot program in Houston, Texas to support long-term recovery in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. This South Florida Home Rebuild Program will be built on the success and lessons learned from the Houston pilot.
“Team Rubicon is excited to launch this Home Rebuild Program in South Florida and for the opportunity to help get families impacted by Hurricane Irma back to a sense of pre-storm normalcy,” said David Venables, Deputy Director of Rebuild at Team Rubicon. “It’s a privilege to partner with The Salvation Army on this project. This organization brings deep community ties, resources and know-how that will help us rebuild homes and lives in South Florida.”
The launch of this program in South Florida marks a return to Collier County for Team Rubicon. Soon after Hurricane Irma made landfall as a Category 4 storm, Team Rubicon launched a response operation to provide immediate disaster relief. Now, the organization is returning to Collier County to address on-going, long-term recovery needs in impacted communities.
Team Rubicon boasts an 80,000-strong, highly-skilled volunteer force that helps communities stabilize and recover after a disaster. Since its 2010 inception, Team Rubicon has responded to over 285 disasters, including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
About Team Rubicon
Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. Team Rubicon is a nonprofit organization offering veterans a chance to continue their service by helping those afflicted by disasters, and also themselves. Programs and services are made possible by the support of individual donors, corporate partners, and the dedication of volunteers across the country. To join or support Team Rubicon’s mission, visit www.teamrubiconusa.org.
About The Salvation Army