PEOPLESCAPE: DeGroat brings personal experiences to Habitat for Humanity

Traci DeGroat, executive director for Prince William County’s Habitat for Humanity, knows from experience what it’s like to live on the verge of homelessness in condemned housing; in fact, it’s what led her to Manassas in the first place.

On any given day, DeGroat could be moving swiftly around Habitat’s ReStore, a sort of builder’s thrift shop, in Manassas, meeting with county officers, directing various operations or evaluating potential homeowners. The fact she’s been there before is one of the reasons DeGroat said she finds her work with Habitat so rewarding.

DeGroat moved to Virginia from Minnesota in 1985. Her husband was in graduate school and they had a small child.

“We literally brought everything in a Chevette,” DeGroat said.

With no extended family in the area, they settled into a small apartment in Old Town Alexandria.

The apartment seemed more like a shelter; its front wall was separating from the front of the building.

“You could drop things down from the inside of the apartment to the outside ground,” DeGroat said. The plaster fell apart in chunks, she added.

After discovering her child had been chewing on fallen pieces, she took him to the doctor and discovered lead levels in his blood were dangerously high. Within days of complaining about the apartment, the city posted a “condemn” notice on the building, giving DeGroat and her family three days to find a new home.

“We tried everywhere,” she said. Suitable prospective apartments were either too expensive or unavailable. They turned to Congressman Jim Moran of the 8th District, who wrote a letter on their behalf to prospective apartment owners and eventually, DeGroat and her small family found a home in Manassas.

“Anyone could be in our position — even educated, resourceful people,” DeGroat said.

Habitat for Humanity, which was originally a ground-up organization known for building new homes, developed “A Brush of Kindness” program, focusing on home repair and restoration of existing, structurally-sound homes.

“It started as a neighborhood revitalization program,” DeGroat said, to abate foreclosures. “We also have training programs to help homeowners learn about homeownership.”

The program operates with the aid of county funds and the ReStore shop brings income for more renovations.

On one particular day, before and after photos of local projects are scattered across DeGroat’s desk in her shared office at ReStore.

“We have many success stories,” DeGroat said.

Homeowners often contact Habitat themselves or are referred by the city or county zoning inspectors.

“Sometimes a neighbor makes a complaint or even sends a referral for a homeowner who cannot afford to keep up their home,” she said.

Not everyone is a candidate, however. A homeowner must be evaluated for income and need. There is also a contingency agreement to work with Habitat to fix the home and upkeep the improvements. In what DeGroat described as a pay-it-forward atmosphere, homeowners help with their own improvements and agree to assist Habitat later.

“There needs to be a willingness to partner,” DeGroat said, “as what we do is a hand-up and not a hand-out.”

Shannyn Snyder can be reached at .