THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 13, 1996 TAG: 9606110132
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KIA MORGAN ALLEN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 72 lines
As her heels sank into the uncut patches of green grass in a large vacant lot in the 700 block of 36th Street, Kim Cowell could not believe that she was standing on the spot of her soon-to-be-built home.
This will be the first home she has owned, where her 2- and 7-year-old boys, Darrell and Shakai, will be able to play in the yard and sit on the porch. The home comes courtesy of several black churches working with Habitat for Humanity.
Cowell was awed by the whirlwind of events that led to her family being recipients of the home. She, her husband, Darryl, and their children will be moving from their two bedroom apartment in Norview into a home totally built by volunteers.
``Once I see it go into progress, maybe it will sink in,'' said Cowell, 32.
Just days before, she had received a phone call from a Habitat for Humanity employee who told her the ground-breaking ceremony would be held.
``Generations will look upon this place and know this is the place you have built,'' the Rev. Anthony C. Paige of First Baptist Church-Lamberts Point said as he thrust a shovel into the ground.
The project has been a year in the making. Not only did Cowell feel blessed by the event, but sponsors and supporters also were overjoyed that a yearlong vision finally had come to pass. Those sponsors and supporters include New Calvary Baptist Church, First Baptist Church-Lamberts Point, Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church, First Baptist Church-Bute Street, Norfolk/Virginia Beach Continentals, Kiski Club, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
For five years, the executive director of South Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity, Sylvia Hallock, said the group has been working toward uniting black churches to build a home.
``There is nothing more wonderful, more satisfying than to help a family realize the dream of home ownership,'' she said.
For seven years, the Cowell family has lived in Dundale Square in Norview and never thought of getting a home of their own.
Then, in 1992, ``My husband lost his job,'' Cowell said. ``I was working in Lafayette Village Nursing Home and had to go on total bed rest because I almost had a miscarriage. We both had no income.''
But, she said, ``I just kept praying.''
Through prayer and church members, she said, ``only the grace of God'' saw her through. ``Sometimes you get tired of not having, but I knew God would bring us to a house someday . . . so I waited.''
Many families like the Cowells are finding their way to home ownership with Habitat for Humanity. The South Hampton Roads project, started in 1990, now has produced 28 homes throughout the area, and promises 10 more before the year is out. Seven are currently under construction.
Dorothy Bish, a mother of two and a Habitat for Humanity Home recipient, said her home is under construction in Virginia Beach near Carver Avenue. Her home is being sponsored by the United Methodist Church.
``I got the best news of my life the Saturday before Mother's Day,'' she said of the news she received a year ago about her prospective home.
These homes also may be considered to have the best deals. With a 15-year, no-interest mortgage, families will pay for their home for less rent than that of apartment living.
``We don't compete with banks and mortgage companies or government programs, so we keep our levels just below theirs,'' Hallock said.
Genoa McPhatter, head of the steering committee for the project, said the committee is gung-ho about the Habitat project.
``We hope to broaden the scope so that we can get more participation from other churches,'' she said. ``We are on a roll to building now.'' ILLUSTRATION: Darryl and Kim Cowell with their sons, Darrell, left,
and Shakai. The Cowells will soon move into their new home in the
700 block of 36th Street. This will be the first home the couple has
owned. Several churches and organizations worked with Habitat for
Humanity to organize the project.
Photo by GARY C. KNAPP by CNB