Five Williamsburg-area families will soon have homes to call their own through Habitat for Humanity’s Benefit Lane project.
Companies across the area rallied together to pool funding, resources and manpower to build five new homes on the new Benefit Lane, which links Neighbors Drive to Forest Heights Road in a neighborhood off Richmond Road in James City County.
For some families moving into the soon-to-be-constructed homes, it has been a multi-year effort to gain housing assistance. One new homeowner will be the first person in her family to own a house.
Angelia Robinson, LaKeisha Cowles, Pamela Smith, Chandre Moore and Paula Rodgers will be the first residents of James City County’s Benefit Lane. All five women were born and raised in the Williamsburg area.
“I have wanted this for such a long time and I am truly grateful,” said Cowles during a groundbreaking ceremony for her new home Friday.
Cowles has been living with her parents in Toano, sharing a bedroom with her 6-year-old son Zion. Aside from having separate bedrooms for herself and her son, Cowles looks forward to home ownership.
“I’m truly blessed to have this opportunity. It’s something I’ve wanted for a long time. Dreams do come true,” Cowles said.
Smith has been trying for more than 10 years to get a home share with her 17-year-old daughter Markisha Jones, who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“Everything I’ve ever done and will ever do is for my daughter,” Smith said.
Smith’s eyes filled with tears as she talked about the struggles her daughter has faced: having difficulty climbing two flights of stairs to their current apartment and being unable to sleep at night because of loud neighbors.
“I always wanted to get my daughter a home. … I pray that she’s able to enjoy the house,” Smith said. “My baby, my little girl doesn’t have to walk up two flights of stairs.”
Smith’s new home on Benefit Drive will put her within walking distance of her mother’s home, which is near the corner of Richmond Road and Neighbors Drive. As a single mother, Smith values the proximity to her family members.
“I thank the Lord for what he’s doing. I didn’t understand why it was taking so long for me to get a home,” Smith said. “This is even more critical because of the situations that are going on with [Markisha].”
Within months of her daughter’s diagnosis, Smith was notified she had been approved for a home through Habitat for Humanity.
Moore – who has been applying for a home through Habitat for Humanity since 2004 – will be the first homeowner in her family. She is excited to give her daughter, Miasia, and twins – son Thomas and daughter Thomia – a place to call their own. The children are looking forward to having a yard where they can play.
“It’s a blessing to be able to own. Because of the economy … I just thought it wouldn’t be possible,” Moore said.
Robinson is returning to the neighborhood after leaving a home she rented on Neighbors Drive. The home was torn down to make way for Benefit Lane, which has paved the way to her homeownership after 14 years of applying to Habitat for Humanity. She kept the news a surprise from her family, letting them know in time to attend Friday’s groundbreaking.
“I’m very grateful. I’m so very grateful. I have a better understanding and better feeling about what Habitat is all about,” Robinson said.
The road to homeownership through Habitat for Humanity is long and requires future homeowners to meet certain criteria. Family Services Director Teunsha Vick – who is also currently running for Newport News City Council – said applications are posted on the Habitat for Humanity website and are also supplied to local housing offices. At any one time, the organization could have 60 to 70 applications to review.
In order to qualify for a home, applicants must not have any credit judgments against them and they must fall in a low-income bracket: 45 to 60 percent of the area’s median income. The range changes based on the number of people in a family. Vick meets with applicants one-on-one to ensure they meet criteria before attempting to find them housing.
Once approved, the future homeowners must complete 400 hours of volunteer service either at a ReStore location or through building a new home. The homes are then sold to the qualified homeowner at cost – usually about $75,000 – with a 20- to 30-year mortgage with no interest. House payments are typically less than $500 per month.
The organization gives “families a hand up, rather than a hand out,” said David Hancock, president of Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors.
For more information about Habitat for Humanity, visit the organization’s website.
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