Richmond has long history building Habitat homes

During the "Merriewood Miracle" in 2003, UR students blitz-built a Habitat for Humanity house in one cold, rainy week in April.

BY LINDA EVANS
Editor, RichmondNow

When Carolyn Walker received the first home in Richmond constructed by Habitat for Humanity in 1989, she did not realize that University of Richmond students had helped build her house.

In one of life’s ironic twists, Walker came to work at the University 10 years after obtaining her house and has been a member of University Facilities ever since, currently serving as a custodian in Booker Hall of Music. She still lives in the house on Church Hill and says she likes it as much now as when she moved in. She’ll pay off the mortgage in 2010.

The University of Richmond’s association with Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity has been a long and continuous one. The organization builds simple and affordable homes in partnership with those in need. Families purchase homes through interest-free loans and put in at least 350 hours of “sweat equity,” working alongside volunteers on their home and other Habitat homes in the city.

For many years, UR's Habitat for Humanity chapter sponsored a 5K run to raise money for local Habitat projects.

In 1988, The Collegian reported that an informal meeting of students in a local restaurant to discuss the city’s housing problems “turned into the Richmond chapter of Habitat for Humanity.”

Since then, the chapter has raised more than $300,000 for Habitat homes, volunteered countless hours helping construct more than 150 homes, and in 2003, co-sponsored with the Greek system a blitz-build, during which students, faculty and staff built a Habitat house in one week, providing all funding and volunteers for the build. Called the “Merriewood Miracle” because the home was located in the Merriewood subdivision of Chesterfield County, the project was completed on time despite cold and rainy conditions.

Students repeated the blitz-build model in 2005, partnering with Richmond Metropolitan Habitat and NVR Ryan Homes to build a house in eastern Henrico and renovate three nearby schools.

For many years, the UR chapter and Volunteers in Action hosted the UR Century Ride, a 100-mile relay bike ride to raise money for Habitat. Later, a 5K run and, more recently, a golf tournament and bachelor-bachelorette auction have raised funds for more homes.

This year, students working through Build It and the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement will construct another house. Beginning Feb. 27, students, faculty and staff will work in shifts, volunteering on the house each Wednesday through Saturday for eight weeks.

This year’s campus Habitat chapter president, Bobby O’Brien, ’08, says Habitat’s emphasis on community involvement got him interested.
“The thing I love most about Habitat is that they do not simply come into an area, build a house and then leave. Habitat works to create partnerships with the surrounding community, getting everyone involved, leaving behind not just a home but a lot of great friendships and memories.”

In 1997, UR students helped lay shingles on a Habitat house in Richmond.

He hopes UR students will get involved with this year’s construction project and related activities in the Northside neighborhood of Highland Park. “We have a chance to make an impact beyond just our campus walls, so let’s do it. By working on this project, we will not only be able to actually apply what we have learned in class, but also learn from the surrounding community,” said O”Brien.

When told about the 2008 project and the University’s long history with Habitat, Walker said it is “great that students are willing to help others and see what other people need. They’re willing to pitch in and help. Plus, they learn too.”

Students interested in volunteering for the house build should register online at cygnet.richmond.edu/events/build_students/. Faculty and staff may register at cygnet.richmond.edu/events/build_facstaff/. Staff members may devote one regular workday to the project, with pay, contigent on their supervisor's advance approval. For more information, contact the CCE at 484-4600 or engage@richmond.edu.