The unique partnership of four organizations (United Way of Greenbrier Valley, Homes for White Sulphur Springs, Main Street White Sulphur Springs and Appalachia Service Project) announce the planned Dec. 16 dedication of homes built by the Rental Renewal Program in Hope Village. Home dedications will occur at 1 p.m., and all are invited to participate.
In March of this year, United Way of Greenbrier Valley partnered with Homes for White Sulphur Springs and Main Street White Sulphur Springs to create the Rental Renewal Program. The partnership formed to provide recovery support for flood impacted families who were renting their homes in the Greenbrier Valley when the flood of June 23, 2016 hit. The Appalachia Service Project became the fourth partner a few weeks later as the builder of new homes.
Since March, 12 new homes were built at Hope Village as a result of this program. Hope Village, created in August 2016 by Homes for White Sulphur Springs in response to the need for a new neighborhood for families who could not, or did not want to return to their home in the flood ravaged areas of White Sulphur Springs, will have a total of 36 homes at completion.
United Way of Greenbrier Valley provided a $250,000 grant in support of the initiative. The funds were matched by funds from Homes for White Sulphur Springs and a generous gift from the Seneca Trail Charitable Foundation in hopes of assisting as many families as possible. The gifts result in making seven fortunate families homeowners and create five affordable rental units.
The Rental Renewal Program properties are managed by Main Street White Sulphur Springs. Main Street President Pat Harper noted that, “This is a wonderful way for Main Street to participate in the long-term recovery of our community. The repair of existing homes and construction of new homes are critical to the economic development of White Sulphur Springs, which is the primary mission of Main Street WSS.”
Erin Hurst, executive director of United Way of Greenbrier Valley commented, “From the earliest days of the recovery, the United Way searched for ways to help flood victims who lived in rental homes. FEMA Grants and Volunteer Services have helped greatly in the recovery effort, however these largely been focused towards homeowners. Through our efforts, and the efforts of our partners, this program provides relief for families who did not benefit from the outpouring of support that continues throughout the valley.”
Tom Crabtree, a volunteer architect and White Sulphur Springs resident who mobilized the Hope Village Project with a group of local businesses and supporters, commented, “We have been humbled by the incredible volunteer effort on behalf of our little town of White Sulphur Springs. This is yet another example of West Virginians helping West Virginians. And we cannot say enough good about how competent, professional and responsive our fiscal sponsor, the Greater Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation, and Courtney Smith as GVCF executive director have been. ”
Home dedications for the Rental Renewal Program will be held at Hope Village on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 1 p.m. Hope Village is located at 1266 Big Draft Road, White Sulphur Springs. Regional and local leaders as well as the general public are encouraged to celebrate the near completion of Hope Village.
