ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, June 8, 1996 TAG: 9606090059
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BEDFORD
SOURCE: JAMES TOLLIVER JR. STAFF WRITER
City Council, which usually meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, will hold a special Saturday session June 22.
Council members, however, won't be discussing budgets or street improvements in the comfort of the Municipal Building; they'll be working outside, building homes for Bedford Habitat for Humanity.
"You'll probably see all seven members of the council volunteering in the construction of the houses," Mayor Mike Shelton said. "I think it is a real desire to help this organization get off on the right foot."
Habitat is a national nonprofit organization that receives money from individuals, corporations and churches to provide housing for low-income families and organizes volunteers to build the homes. To qualify for home ownership through Habitat, a family must live in substandard housing, have sufficient income to pay the mortgage, and agree to be a partner with Habitat
A common partnership with Habitat is a 300-hour work program that includes "sweat equity," in which family members help build homes.
"Hours are also given for things they do to help themselves, like going to school, and for those with bad credit, going to consumer credit counseling," said Sara Hudson, a board member of Habitat. "We don't give the houses away.
The Bedford Habitat chapter, which started about four years ago as a satellite of the Lynchburg chapter, will break ground for its first two homes June22. The Bedford satellite became an independent chapter May1.
"There was a definite need for housing in the Bedford area," said Laura Munson, development coordinator for Habitat in Lynchburg. "We would be happy to continue lending support to the Bedford affiliate."
The Edmund Street houses will be on land that was in part donated by Bedford City Council and in part purchased by the chapter.
Community involvement is an important part of Habitat. The Strawberry Baptist Association - 31 Baptist churches in Bedford County and two in Botetourt County - is helping Habitat.
"I'm enthusiastic about our involvement and the responses of our churches in working with Habitat for Humanity," said Seaburn Daniel, director of mission and ministry for Strawberry Baptist Association.
But the chapter still needs volunteers.
"There are a lot of people in Bedford who don't know our affiliate exist," said the Rev. C. Edward West, president of Bedford's Habitat. "We desperately need someone to head up committees, like fund-raising."
Bedford's Habitat is sponsoring a barbecue fund-raiser today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Moneta. A free-will donation will be taken. The chapter also will accept lumber, nails, hammers or other material during the fund-raiser.
"I encourage everyone to come out," Shelton said. "This project is beneficial not only for the people Habitat is helping, but the entire community."
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