KELLY COLEMAN

Habitat for Humanity has been changing lives in Indian River County for over 22 years.  This March, the local affiliate led by President Andy Bowler will launch another new project endeavor focused on repairing homes in the Gifford neighborhoods of Treasure Coast Plaza and Pineview Park.

Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRI) is a repair program established to help alleviate increasing levels of housing problems in our county.  Due in part to construction costs in a recessed economy, Habitat is no longer relying exclusively on new construction to address housing needs.  Responding to an increased number of individuals living below poverty line, homelessness, compounded by the rising cost of rental housing, subsequent overcrowding, and diminishing donations, IRC Habitat leaders have introduced two new products to attack escalating needs.  These solutions will essentially allow the Ecumenical Christian Ministry to do more with less by purchasing and rehabbing foreclosed homes, and by reviving neighborhoods and enhancing quality of life through the NRI repair program.

In the first local NRI initiative Rock the Block Around the Clock, over 30 pre-selected owner-occupied homes belonging to elderly, infirmed, veterans, the working poor and others currently unable to help themselves, will undergo repairs and landscaping projects.  The purpose of the home repair project is not only to help families stay in their homes, but to also repair family dynamics – to break the cycle of poverty with much needed financial counseling, relationship building, after school assistance, scholarships and much more.  All participants are required to be involved in what is known to be a life changing event.

LaKisha Erwin, Revitalization Initiative Manager for this project, has been busy planning the event and partnering with local organizations for months.  “When I first came on board, one of the first things I did was to go door to door to find out who was in need and to let everyone know what we were going to be doing with Rock the Block.  Once we identify a need, we do an assessment to make sure the homeowner qualifies as far as income.  It is really incredible in the Gifford community how word of mouth can get around. Rock the Block will magnify that Habitat is now doing repairs, not just building new homes.”

Habitat for Humanity is a hand-up, not a hand-out organization.  “We like to make sure that we are promoting and graduating recipients to another level, not just passing out things.  They have to partner with us in sweat equity hours,” clarifies Erwin. The idea is to ultimately come along side of members of the community and to “bring a sense of community back” to a struggling neighborhood.

With Rock the Block, Habitat is focused on doing beautification projects in the Gifford neighborhoods. Each week during the entire month of March, several different groups of high-school to college age young adults from Penn State, Kentucky, Michigan and Gainesville, Georgia will travel to Vero Beach and join hands with local Habitat partners, different church groups and the adjacent neighborhoods of Treasure Coast Plaza and Pineview Park in repairing homes, planting hope and establishing new beginnings for those that have qualified.

“The beauty of NRI is that it is not only repairing homes, but is repairing families and building communities.  Under this one initiative we are trying to pull residents and community partners together to bring back that sense of community,” shares LaKisha.  On April 5^th, from 11-2:00 in Treasure Coast Plaza, Habitat will sponsor a large block party along with many community service organizations to formally introduce all of the families who were recipients of the Rock the Block project. Festivities, food, a parade and total celebration will culminate in a final celebration of this initial community beautification project.

The ultimate goal of Rock the Block Around the Clock?  Rebuilding and bringing communities together, blessing homeowners, blessing volunteers, bridging affluent and poverty stricken families, partnering with agencies and getting more people involved on an all new level.  Understanding that IRC Habitat for Humanity is much more than just building new homes.

If you would like to assist in the Rock the Block Around the Clock project, there are sponsorship and volunteer opportunities available.  To contact LaKisha Erwin call 772-562-9860 ext. 211 or email lerwin@irchabitat.org