RONCEVERTE, W.Va. (WVDN) – The Greenbrier Valley chapter of Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity has announced that it has just finished one house for a family and is beginning the construction of another.
Demolition has begun on a lot on Pocahontas Avenue in Ronceverte for a new Habitat for Humanity home, and construction should start in late spring. Habitat for Humanity has yet to select a partner/owner for this property, and interested parties are encouraged to apply.
Applications are available online at Almost Heaven Habitat.org; homebuyer inquiry information can be located under “Housing Help.” A Google form application is attached, called New Home Inquiry Form, which gives all of the applicant’s pertinent information to the Habitat office.
Families can qualify if they have a critical housing need and cannot get approval for a conventional loan from a bank, says Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Kayla Dransfield. Income requirements vary, depending on family size.
Dransfield says the homeowner is usually chosen during the build of a Habitat home. “This can be a once in a lifetime opportunity for a first-time homeowner,” she says.
Dransfield explained that once chosen, the partner family will devote 270 manhours, working as part of the construction team either on their house or another in the area.
The partner family will pay a mortgage, Dransfield says, generally $300-$500 dollars a month. Prompt payment can result in a bonus of forgiveness of the balance at the end of the mortgage, so it is great incentive to make all the payments on time, she explains.
The Greenbrier Valley chapter of Habitat for Humanity was formed when the Pocahontas and Greenbrier groups combined in 2010. The organization just completed a home on Anthony Creek Road that took only nine months to build, and it should be occupied soon.
Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity is also affiliated the ReStore secondhand shop, located on North Jefferson Street in Lewisburg.
“The ReStore revenue is our sustainable fundraiser for the Habitat projects in our area,” says Dransfield. Their location across from Colonial Ford has been a blessing after they lost the one in White Sulphur Springs in the 2016 flood.
The current ReStore facility carries a wide variety of materials for construction projects that have been donated by area contractors to support the Habitat program. Interior and exterior doors, storm windows, blinds, light fixtures, pipe, tile and floor coverings like laminate are all available for sale, says Dransfield, explaining that some materials are recycled, and some are new, excess building materials.
They are for sale for a fraction of the cost of newly purchased materials, she says.
Dransfield says that the space in Lewisburg is tight, so furniture and large construction pieces are not handled easily, but she is using the building creatively and even did some renovation during COVID-19 shutdowns to increase the facility capabilities.
“We are so grateful to our landlord for everything,” she says.
Dransfield says the organization is seeking volunteers to help construct homes as well as to work in the ReStore.
Local building volunteers are often supported by out-of-area volunteer groups who are housed by Rhema Christian Center. The first team to arrive to work in Ronceverte will be Blue Ridge School for Boys, says Dransfield.
“About 10 out of area groups are being scheduled during the planned build in Ronceverte. We still need local volunteers, and they can do so through the website.”
Right now, only one house is being built at a time, but it is preferable to build two and bounce the volunteer workforce back and forth between them to keep everyone busy, she explains.
Volunteers from all walks of life are useful in the construction process, and construction skills and supervisory experience are a great asset.
“We will train, and we also have limited abilities in our youth helpers with handling tools, so adults are always helpful with the team effort. There is a lot going on,” Dransfield says.
“We need employees and volunteers to help at the ReStore store as well,” says Dransfield. Business is recovering post-COVID-19, and donations are being made again at the store.
“Donations to the ReStore store can be made during regular business hours. If you cannot haul it in yourself, the ReStore truck can go up to 30 miles out to pick up donated items,” she says. For truck pickup, call 304-647-1359.
“Our community partners are our blessing. We are small but mighty,” says Dransfield.
