Groundbreaking on 'Rebuilding Rainelle'

RAINELLE, W.Va., Aug. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Appalachia Service Project (ASP) has launched 'Rebuilding Rainelle' by breaking ground on the first of up to 50 new homes to be built for families devastated by the flooding in June. ASP is partnering on this effort with Homes for West Virginia, an initiative of SBP, as well as Baptist Builders, many churches and individuals.

Rebuilding Rainelle is Appalachia Service Project's long term recovery effort to help rebuild the community of Rainelle, West Virginia, the epicenter of June's deadly flood. ASP staff and volunteers have served in Rainelle the last two summers, developing strong relationships with many families in the community.

The flood—one of the worst in state history—destroyed over 1,000 homes statewide and 23 people lost their lives. Rainelle was devastated, including 90% of the homes near the downtown area. Five people in Rainelle did not survive.

Many of Rainelle's low-income homeowners are unable to rebuild their homes because they have no insurance, are unable to qualify for emergency loans and have few personal resources. These families are the focus of ASP's longer term recovery efforts through Rebuilding Rainelle.

According to ASP President/CEO Walter Crouch, "Rebuilding Rainelle will bring volunteer and financial resources together to build new homes and perform major rehab on homes that are repairable. We have been working alongside Rainelle Mayor Andy Pendleton and other community leaders, and have identified as many as 50 homes that will need to be replaced and countless others that will need to be repaired."

"For families receiving replacement homes, we will provide them with energy efficient and low maintenance homes," said Crouch. "Our standard floorplan is a three bedroom, one bath home—864 square feet—but the number of bedrooms can be adapted to fit the family's needs."

"Gifts of grace" are what Crouch calls the home repairs and new homes that ASP provides. "No mortgages are involved. It's a fresh start for those in need and allows us to reach families without regard to their credit history or income level. We do, however, require owners of new homes to attend financial literacy and homeownership courses to prepare them for a successful future in their new home."

Homes for West Virginia is an initiative of SBP, a leading national disaster-recovery nonprofit organization formed in 2006 following Hurricane Katrina. Homes for West Virginia works in partnership with local stakeholders to help rebuild homes, restore lives and rejuvenate communities devastated by the 2016 West Virginia flooding. Their mission is to shrink the time between disaster and recovery. 

Zack Rosenburg, SBP CEO and co-Founder, said: "We are excited that ASP is partnering with Homes for West Virginia and that we'll be able to leverage our resources in providing much needed help to the devastated communities across West Virginia. When Homes for West Virginia launched earlier this month in White Sulphur Springs, our goal was to partner with others so that we could help West Virginians recover as quickly as possible. We're excited to see this vision become a reality."

Homes for West Virginia's goal is to raise $20 million to help flooded communities throughout West Virginia. To donate to Homes for West Virginia or learn more visit: www.HomesforWV.org.

Families impacted by the flooding in Rainelle can apply to ASP for consideration. Visit www.ASPhome.org/apply and click the "apply for home repair online" button (fastest method), or pick up an application at the Rainelle Town Hall or Red Star Lumber. Filling out an application does not guarantee selection and additional applicant requirements are required. ASP will determine with a home assessment whether or not repairs or a new home is needed.

Rebuilding Rainelle is just one part of ASP's larger outreach to families in need across Central Appalachian Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

ABOUT APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT (ASP)
Appalachia Service Project (ASP), is a Christian ministry, open to all people, that inspires hope and service through volunteer home repair in Central Appalachia. Our vision is that substandard housing will be eradicated and everyone who comes into contact with this ministry will be transformed.

Since 1969, ASP volunteers have been making homes warmer, safer and drier for families in need in Central Appalachia and providing life-transforming experiences for everyone involved. In recent years ASP has expanded it's outreach to include building new homes for low-income families whose homes were destroyed by flooding and others whose homes are beyond repair.

To learn more, visit www.ASPhome.org and like/follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube @AppServProject.

ABOUT SBP
SBP's mission is to shrink the time between disaster and recovery. Since its founding in 2006 in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, SBP has rebuilt homes for more than 1,120 families with the help of 125,000 volunteers in New Orleans; Joplin, MO; Staten Island, NY; Rockaway, NY; Monmouth and Ocean Counties, NJ; San Marcos, TX and Columbia, SC.

To learn more, visit www.SBPUSA.org and like/follow on Facebook & Twitter @SBPUSA.

SOURCE Mylan N.V.; Homes for West Virginia

Related Links

http://www.ASPhome.org