The "Williamsburg House" story:
What was proposed as a volunteer renovation project for one of United Way's community partners in 2018, has become a community wide effort to support a deserving Williamsburg family. This 67-year old house is home to six individuals; three adults and three children. Two children and one adult have disabilities, making the state of the house very difficult for the family to live in. There was one bathroom, and limited livable space. There was no electricity on the second floor, and there were holes in the floor that were stuffed with rugs to keep rodents out. There was no stair rail to the second floor and some of the bathroom fixtures were missing, resulting in the use of tools to turn the water on and off. The ceiling was falling in because the roof was in such bad shape. Due to deterioration, the house was in an condemned state and needed to be completely torn down.
The grandmother is the owner of the house, which was built by her father and older brother and was the house her son was born in. She watches her three grandchildren during the day so their parents can work. The mother is a licensed cosmetologist and trained CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). Due to some unfortunate set backs, the mother is left with poor credit and impeding debt. Since being connected to UWVP, the family has been connected with Catholic Charities for credit and budget counseling. The father, who was unemployed, has started working full-time as a landscaper ($12/hr). He was given information to contact Literacy for Life in order to begin studying for his GED. The family has also been introduced to and are now receiving services from local programs to offset food expenses.
While the family is on track for success, their home is a big portion on getting them out of their situation. With your donation, their home will rebuilt to house their family for many years to come. The family is very appreciative of any help, and looks forward to starting fresh in their new home.
Through partnerships between the Associated General Contractors of Virginia (AGCVA), Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD), WM Jordan, PBMares, Ritchie Curbow, United Way of the Virginia Peninsula, and several other local businesses, the home is being rebuilt in 2021. The team has overcome a lot of challenges related to funding, permits, weather, and the COVID-19 pandemic, but their resiliency is inspiring.
The Williamsburg House Project encompasses what United Way is all about - that it is not just nonprofits that we rely on to create change in our community, but the collective work of local businesses, government, financial institutions, and more coming together to create opportunities for our friends and neighbors in need. United Way of the Virginia Peninsula has been continually amazed by the individuals and local businesses who have come together to give their resources and talents to build a new home for this family.
As of February 2022: We are still in need of ~$15,000 to finish building the home. Donations would cover costs related to HVAC, Concrete (sidewalk, driveway, patio), Closet Units, and other smaller construction expenses. If you are interested in making an in-kind contribution, please reach out to development@uwvp.org
MAKE A DONATION HERE!
