delaware county housing
coalition
CONTACT: Rebecca Ayars, Ayars Communications
610.566.4013 or
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Cell: 610.836.2099
Delaware County Housing
Coalition (DCHC) Receives $15,000 Grant
From Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Memorial
Fund to Support Renovations
To Vacant Property on McDowell Street in Chester, PA
Volunteers
from Region Invited to Assist with Home Renovation in Coming Months
(Chester,
PA) August 18, 2008 -- The
Delaware County Housing Coalition (DCHC) has received an Ethel Sargeant Clark
Smith Memorial Fund grant (administered by Wachovia Bank Nonprofit &
Philanthropic Services)
of $15,000 to
support work underway to renovate a vacant, single family property in Chester’s
Sun Village neighborhood so that it can be offered for sale to a first-time
homebuyer. The announcement was made
today by Susan Young, Executive Director of DCHC, a non-profit organization
that mobilizes volunteers to work in low to moderate income neighborhoods to
assist homeowners in Chester and Delaware County with home and community improvements.
DCHC purchased 1004 McDowell Street with plans to
renovate the property, which had fallen into disrepair. Young said that the
renovations were being supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD), the city of Chester,
the Ethel Sargeant Clark Memorial fund and through the individual donations of needed
materials. Once renovations are complete, DCHC will make the home available for
purchase by a Chester
resident, likely a first-time, homebuying family of low to moderate income.
DCHC invites area organizations to assist with the McDowell Street
renovation during volunteer work days that will begin this September. Contact Susan Young at the DCHC office, at
610-874-7181.
Since March 2008, DCHC has organized over 100
volunteers to work on the property to finish necessary demolition and interior
cleaning, including groups from Penncrest and Strath Haven
High Schools, The Haverford
School, State Farm Insurance, Media Presbyterian Church and Fellowship Church
of Glen Mills. Over the summer, DCHC
will employ contractors to handle mechanical work such as electrical, plumbing
and HVAC, so that groups of volunteers from area churches, schools and
corporations can resume renovations this fall and winter. Under DCHC’s
direction, volunteers of all ages and skill levels will insulate the home, install
a kitchen and bathroom, new doors, windows, drywall and trim, as well as paint interior
walls and woodwork and landscape the property.
“We are excited about the home renovation in Sun
Village, which we hope will help to bring greater stability to this historic neighborhood
by providing decent, affordable housing and increasing the stock of
owner-occupied homes in the community,” said Susan Young, DCHC’s Executive
Director. Young notes that she schedules over 20 work days each year, involving
area volunteers in the organization’s mission of bringing renewal to Chester
communities by accomplishing simple home repairs and neighborhood
beautification projects such as repairing porches, painting home exteriors, yard
cleanup and landscaping.
Since its founding in 2002, DCHC has repaired,
painted and landscaped more than 200 homes in Chester,
utilizing over 2500 volunteers from area churches, high schools, universities
and corporations and Chester
neighborhoods. The faith-based coalition
seeks to bring stability to at-risk neighborhoods by working in partnership
with the city of Chester,
surrounding churches and community agencies, and residents of low and moderate
income to accomplish home and community improvements. At the same time, DCHC provides volunteers
with an opportunity to enrich their lives by donating their time and talents to
help their Delaware
County neighbors.
