Habitat SHR has been collaborating with Old Dominion University and the City of Norfolk to build a house on W. 39th Street in Norfolk. The construction began the week of ODU's homecoming in November. Lately the Spring weather has been great. Progress has been made with passing the framing and insulation inspections recently. Students, clubs and faculty members have been out on the job site along with other volunteers to keep the build moving along.
The trades have been in and the home will be sheetrocked the second week of May. Following the installation will be painting and interior trim work.
| ARAMARK | FritoLay |
| Chicho’s Pizza | Miller's |
| SOBO’s Pizza Kitchen & Ale House | Boar’s Nest |
| Perfectly Frank | Contact us at 640-0590 if you'd like to supply lunch! |
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| October 2009 | Begin Foundation Work |
| November 2-7 | Blitz Build the home at 39th Street, have framed by weeks end |
| January 2010 | Finalizing framing, will proceed with necessary inspections and call on trades |
| Interior work to begin after Presidents Day | |
| Spring 2010 | Dedicate |
LaShawn Jones and her two daughters (Deja, 17 and Dijon, 14) have been matched with the 39th Street Norfolk property. They will be able to have their own place to call home. LaShawn was selected into the program in April 2009. She is a Norfolk native who went to Booker T. Washington High School. She grew up in the projects going from one blighted neighborhood to the next and when the rent spiked (in her last place) due to new ownership she made the decision to move her family in with her mother and split the high rent. So for three years LaShawn and her daughters have shared a three bedroom townhome in Norfolk. Deja and Dijon currently share a room in their present living conditions. Dijon is very much looking forward "to having her own room."
LaShawn has a friend who become a Habitat homeowner in 2003 in Norfolk and that’s who she learned about Habitat from. LaShawn is very excited about this opportunity of breaking the cycle and has already planned the layout of her backyard. She loves the idea of a gazebo out back; she’s never had that backyard opportunity and can’t wait to have her own.
LaShawn currently works at Opportunity Inc. a company that provides adults assistance to go to school. LaShawn herself has the goal to return to college, next year with her eldest Deja; both with an interest in the health care field. LaShawn has seen the plans for her new home and is ‘excited…the girls can help!’ and she can teach her girls about homeownership. She is looking forward to breaking the cycle and making a more stable environment for her family. Construction on the Jones home will begin in October with a ground breaking planned for November 2009 to coincide with ODU’s homecoming.