Blacksburg United Methodist Church presented a $50,000 check to Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley to assist with the construction of seven new residences on Church Street in Blacksburg.
The funding is a gift from BUMC’s two congregations: the main Campus on Church Street and “The Edges,” its satellite campus on Harding Ave.
Construction on this project, dubbed “Homes on Church Street,” which consists of seven attached townhomes, began this month and will be completed in 18 months. The overall value of the project, including reimbursement from the Town of Blacksburg for $184,000 in site work, is approximately $1.2 million.
The project features two 1,500-square-foot, one-and-a-half-story units with first-floor bedrooms and zero-step entrances, completely accessible for those with disabilities. There will also be five 1,500 square foot two-story interior units. All units will be Earthcraft- and Energy Star-certified for energy efficiency.
Humanity of the New River Valley serves Montgomery, Giles, Floyd and Pulaski counties and Radford City. It is part of a global, non-profit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes.
Habitat for Humanity also advocates for fair and just housing policies and provides training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the convictions that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and in safety and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all.
Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and serves people in need regardless of race or religion. As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize; Habitat does not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
“This was such a generous gift,” said Shelley Fortier, Habitat Executive Director. “We are grateful for the many years that the Blacksburg Methodist Church congregation has supported our mission.”