
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994                   TAG: 9406190038
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HABITAT, HOUSING GROUP: A WORKING RELATIONSHIP

The Greater Lynchburg Habitat for Humanity has built 71 homes in the Lynchburg area since the affiliate was founded in 1989, thanks in large part to the city's housing authority.

The Lynchburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority acquired property in a neighborhood that had been the center of crack cocaine dealing, said Kevin Campbell, president of Lynchburg's Habitat affiliate. The authority demolished all of the substandard housing on the property and planned to build 20 homes in its place.

The authority built one home that was to serve as a model for the other 19, but the model home sat untouched for a year, Campbell said. The authority asked Habitat to buy the home at cost and eventually turned the project over to Habitat.

Not only did the deal enable the affiliate to build 42 Habitat homes, but it established a relationship between the two, Campbell said.

"We wouldn't be where we are without them," he said. "We've had a lot of help from them in acquiring land."

The authority can use the power of eminent domain in cases where property is owned by unwilling sellers, if City Council grants it that power, Campbell said.

"It's not so much unwilling sellers but bad titles, cases where they can't find owners or where there are a lot of heirs," he said. "Eminent domain can clear the title. The person that owns it can be compensated for it."

Campbell said a bill passed the General Assembly this year that would expand housing authorities' power in land acquisitions used for housing purposes. Gov. George Allen vetoed the bill but is expected to reconsider it during the special session later this year, Campbell said.

Habitat's Roanoke Valley affiliate has no similar relationship with the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority but hopes to eventually, said Jean Darby, the affiliate's vice president.

"Housing authorities can make a difference where nobody else can," Campbell said.

by CNB