Groups to restore house

Manassas, Va. - Two local nonprofit organizations are teaming up to repair a Dumfries townhome that will be sold to a low-income family whose hopes and dreams of owning a home will also be restored.

Four people -- Jacob Koch and Peter Salemme, from the Northern Virginia Fuller Center for Housing Jobs in Alexandria, as well as Andrea Saccoccia and Bill Okuly from Project Mend-A-House in Manassas, recently spent an evening assessing the magnitude of the project and dividing the responsibilities of required repairs and home makeovers of the foreclosed townhome.

It was agreed that Project Mend-A-House volunteers will patch the drywall, repair the bathrooms and decking, and replace floors, broken windows, and remove junk, including the soda machine in the backyard.

Fuller Center volunteers will replace the kitchen floors, countertops and insulation, and paint the entire home.

Their goal is to combine forces with other local faith-based and civic organizations, high schools and businesses to complete all repairs by mid-April.

At that time, the neglected and vacant townhome will come alive when one very fortunate low-income family brings to life their hopes and dreams as they move in and take ownership of this home, bought by Catholics for Housing.

"Our organizations are committed to making the dream of home ownership a reality for all residents, particularly low income residents," Saccoccia said. "This unique partnership will enable us to do that, one home at a time."

This initial project serves as only a harbinger of greater, more ambitious things to come -- to combine sponsorships and donations with volunteer labor to restore 25 homes in five days during the first week in July.

Their goal is to raise $150,000 for materials and to bring together literally hundreds of volunteers -- both organic and through partnerships with other nonprofit, faith-based and civic organizations and local businesses -- to make the American dream of owning and maintaining a home a reality for 25 low-income families.

"Through the generosity of Northern Virginians willing to share their gift of time, talent or treasure, we will succeed in this unique endeavor," said Koch. "Never has there been a time where coming together for those less fortunate that us is more important."

For more information on the unique program contact Project Mend-A-House at 703-792-7663 or the Fuller Center at 571-225-6383.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.