A New Beginning
 Newest Habitat Home Recipient
By
Carol Roop
The words “persistent” and “enthusiastic” only begin to describe Tracy Fields. She and her son are the newest partner family for an Orange County Habitat for Humanity home. Twenty five other families have preceded her. Her smile flashes 100 watts when asked about her journey to home ownership. ..
Originally from Harpers’ Ferry, West Virginia, Tracy has lived in Orange County for five years. She says that she prayed for those five years for the opportunity to give her son, five year old Josiah, a safe place in the country to play. She has often worked two jobs to provide for her son. Living in a dark, forty year old trailer, she is unable to cook, do laundry or have a space of her own. “It is depressing,” she says. Habitat has helped her to do something that she was desperately trying to do: get a place of her own to come home to.
She sought assistance from Ruth Bramlett of Skyline Community Action. After many determined visits and phone calls by Tracy, Ruth got the call that set things in motion. A foreclosed home, ready to be refurbished, had been purchased by Habitat. Ruth thought immediately of Tracy. When the Habitat Family Selection Committee came to Tracy’s door with the news, her reaction was, “What! Are you serious?”
Tracy was extremely fortunate that things fell into place so quickly. She met all the qualifications required. Since Habitat for Humanity projects are “A Hand, Up Not a Hand Out,” Tracy, as a prospective homeowner, must have the required down payment, sufficient incomefor mortgage payments, taxes & insurance and the willingness and ability to put in 150 Sweat Equity hours.
When asked what she is most looking forward to, she sits back, sighs and smiles widely. “Birthday parties and sleepovers for my son. Holidays will be wonderful. Baking cookies in my kitchen and watching the snow fall in the trees.” She continues,” I thought, how will I ever afford a normal life for my child? Never in a million years did I think it would happen. God is good.”
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Tracy Fields' new home was dedicated
on November 13, 2011.
Orange County Habitat for Humanity partnered with Habitat Virginia and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to purchase a foreclosure house on the Lahore Road. The house has been refitted with a new repaired roof, new appliances, new carpet and other flooring, other minor repairs and a new paint job. The old fiberboard siding was replaced, new energy efficient windows and a heat pump were installed. The house has now become a home for Tracy and her son Josiah.
Special thanks goes to: Whirlpool, Bill Nowers, Bud Dominick, Tim Tignor, Richard Coleman, 84 Lumber, and the other volunteers that helped when needed and those that provided the funds needed to purchase all the materials. |
