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

DATE: SUNDAY, April 23, 1995                   TAG: 9505080006
SECTION: AMERICAN HOME WEEK                    PAGE: 9   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

REALTORS HELPING PROVIDE HOME TO FAMILY IN NEED

The family chosen to live in this house will assume a 20-year interest free mortgage and contribute 500 hours to building this or another Habitat House.

About 45 percent of low income families in Montgomery County rent their housing. In relation to income, ours is the most expensive part of Virginia for such renters, as the majority spend considerably more than 30 percent of their income on housing.

The WomenWork house will be a three bedroom, 1,000-square foot building. The average cost of such a Habitat House is $28,000.

Nearly 100 WomenWork volunteers have enrolled in YMCA Building Construction classes. Ground breaking is planned for Mother's Day and completion of the house is expected in mid-Fall 1995.

The New River Valley Association of REALTORS has agreed to provide

assistance in several ways. The Association's Community Service funds raised in 1995 will be donated to the WomenWork Project.

Carl N. McNeil, principal broker of McNeil Real Estate of Christiansburg and longtime member of the New River Valley Association of REALTORS, is donating a town lot near Long and Lester Streets in Christiansburg. McNeil will be working with the town of Christiansburg in providing an entrance road and utility hookup.

Many REALTORS will assist in personal fund-raising for this project. The New River Valley Association will ask women REALTORS to participate in the construction of this house.

The Association of REALTORS has applied for a "Partners in Housing" Awards Program grant from the National Association of REALTORS Fannie Mae Foundation for the WomenWork Project.

This award, SHOWING AMERICA A NEW WAY HOME, is especially suitable for the WomenWork Project, which will incorporate approved alternate energy building methods and a solar hot water heater. Award winners will be announced in May.

Habitat for Humanity has a long standing program in providing training in house maintenance and family money management. This Habitat House will be the first experience in home ownership for a low income family. It is part of Habitat for Humanity's philosophy that the family know how to maintain their house and be able to pay for their home.