Building homes and hope
Piedmont Habitat for Humanity is a housing organization of Habitat for Humanity International that builds and repairs homes with the goal of promoting affordable home ownership.
Started in 1990, the organization first began providing services to the Farmville community through its team of dedicated volunteers. 15 years after its founding, the nonprofit was able to add its first staff member and expand from there.
At present, Piedmont serves six counties with a footprint the size of the state of Delaware, and in total, they’ve been able to build or repair 75 homes. The service of home repair was added in 2016 to assist homeowners with repairs that would enable them to remain in their existing homes, such as fixing porches, building entry ramps or installing new windows.
Each year Piedmont offers several application cycles where individuals and families in need of housing can apply to become a “partner family,” and receive a home. Utilizing their social media and website, along with partnerships with other local organizations, churches and non-profits like Centra, allows Habitat to get the word out about the open applications.
While home construction and repair are the bread and butter of Piedmont’s work, they also run a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Farmville where community members can purchase furniture, home décor, appliances and building supplies. The store’s proceeds directly aid Piedmont Habitat for Humanity’s work in the community.
Sam Rabon, Piedmont Habitat for Humanity’s Director of Resource Development and Marketing explained that every family has a unique story making each construction or repair project distinct. Recently, Piedmont was able to build a home for a mother and her son. Not long after their acceptance as a partner family, the mother experienced a stroke, yet this only served to motivate her further to be able to provide housing for her son and have something to leave behind for him.
Piedmont has close ties with Centra as some of its partner families have worked at Centra Southside Community Hospital while other Caregivers like Julie Flores, this month’s Person of Centra, have volunteered with the organization. Additionally, Centra has provided grants to support its construction and repair work.
It's important to know that Piedmont Habitat for Humanity is about more than just building homes. While that’s the end product, what happens along the way in the construction process is what makes this organization unique–volunteers and donors come together alongside the partner family to form a relationship of support.
Sam went on to say, “The process brings people together within the community that might not come together otherwise. We’re building homes, community and hope.”