ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 11, 1996 TAG: 9612110038
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BEDFORD
SOURCE: JOANNE POINDEXTER STAFF WRITER
EACH OWNER IS expected to contribute a $300 down payment and 300 hours of "sweat equity."
Linda Richie hasn't moved a piece of furniture into her new Edmund Street home, but she already has a good idea where she might put the family Christmas tree.
It might sit in front of the dining-area window where she could see it from the hall and any doorway in her home, and people driving on Edmund Street would be able to see its lights through the front window.
Richie is a 37-year-old divorced mother and a full-time nurse's aide, but in the past seven months she's also learned a lot about construction.
Richie and a crew of Habitat for Humanity volunteers have put a lot of sweat into the construction of her house. She has learned about home ownership and also has broadened her circle of friends and her labor skills.
Richie's home is one of the first two Habitat for Humanity houses in Bedford. The houses are built side-by-side on a city-donated lot and two lots that Habitat bought.
Deborah Matchett, Richie's new neighbor and Habitat homeowner, also is a working, single mother who has never owned a house. The 1,050-square-foot homes, are valued at $35,000 each, and each owner is expected to contribute a $300 down payment and 300 hours of "sweat equity" toward the construction.
Since construction started this summer, Richie has practically lived at the house - stopping by to help after work and on her days off.
"I've learned a lot of things, " said Richie, who was afraid of heights when she started nailing shingles on the roof of the one-story house in August.
But, now "if one of the shingles blow off, I can just climb up there and fix it."
The results of her hammering are no longer crooked nails and bruised fingers. The walls and doors do not have dried teardrops from dripping paint. Priming makes a surface easier to paint, she said, while caulking the baseboard of a closet.
She's learned how to lay insulation, put up siding, clear lots, and can do everything but the electrical work because she's not licensed and "I might get shocked."
An abandoned water pump station used to sit on the lot Bedford gave to Habitat for Humanity for the two houses. It and the two other lots, which are too small for houses under today's zoning laws, were cleared and divided for the two homes.
That lot now is producing taxes in a city that has no other vacant, publicly held land suitable for housing, Mayor Mike Shelton said.
The significance of the first two houses, he said, is "the private sector is meeting needs that citizens had looked to the government for, for so long."
The Habitat program helps foster community spirit that many community projects do not, Shelton said.
"Anybody can contribute by writing a check, providing materials or giving their time. I think Habitat strengthens and builds on our cadre of volunteers in the community."
Habitat provides interest-free homes to families who have sufficient income to make monthly mortgage payments but lack resources to qualify for conventional bank loans. Volunteers and the potential owners build the houses.
The program became popular when former President Jimmy Carter got involved and helped build some houses.
The Bedford group organized about two years ago as a satellite for the Lynchburg group but did not get its international affiliation until May. It has received more than 75 applications for houses and is seeking volunteers and suitable land.
Oscar Padgett, building committee chairman in Bedford, said the new homes are a start and will be good for Bedford. His Heritage Corp. prepared the lots and put in footings for free in late July.
Member churches of the Strawberry Baptist Association donated money and adopted phases of work at Matchett's house while other Habitat volunteers worked on Richie's.
Matchett, 33, said she had never given much thought to the tiny details involved in building a house. Her youngest two children have helped hold boards and pick up rocks.
Matchett, who has helped insulate and paint, said she's been interested in a house for several years, "but I didn't know how to come up with the money."
"All of the sudden this is a dream come true," said the Bedford County courthouse custodian.
Her new house is about the size of her three-bedroom apartment, Matchett said, "but one good thing is the children will have their own yard to play in."
Workers this week were scheduled to lay carpet, hook up plumbing, pour the sidewalks, seed the lawn and finish the electrical work.
Gene Reed, Habitat construction crew leader, tells everybody that Richie and her three teen-agers will be in their Edmund Street home "definitely by Christmas."
"If I can get everything situated, I will be really happy," Richie said.
LENGTH: Long : 102 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY Staff. 1. The first two houses built by theby CNBBedford Habitat for Humanity were built on a city-donated lot and
two lots purchased by the organization. 2. Linda Richie, left, and
another volunteer for Habitat for Humanity help prepare the inside
of the house Richie will move into on Edmund Street in Bedford.
color.