Charlotte County has partnered with the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity to provide external repairs to homes of residents.

According to Habitat’s Martha Taylor, the external repairs program is known as A Brush with Kindness.

“The main goal for the partnership is to help members of the community to have a safer place to live by doing exterior repairs to homes here in the northern part of Charlotte County,” said Charlotte County Partnership Chair Justin Hicks.

“We work with Farmville Habitat to find homes to work on and then we are tasked with working with the homeowners to access the needs they have. We also raised money to help offset the cost of the the repairs for the homeowners. We want to make sure that repairs come at an affordable price. 

We also want to partner with local businesses, civic organizations and churches in the area to volunteer to make this dream we have a reality.”

Hicks said the first meeting of the partnership was held in September, and an official agreement with the Farmville Area Habitat was signed in February.

He said the goal of the program is to eliminate low-quality housing conditions for residents in the county and around the world.

“Farmville Area Habitat has the responsibility to work in close-by areas where there is need and no housing organization available,” Hicks said. 

He said the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity affiliate currently serves Farmville, Prince Edward, Buckingham, Cumberland and most recently Charlotte County. 

“Habitat Virginia, the state office, asks the affiliate to reach out to neighboring counties as funds and volunteers become available,” said Hicks.

Eligibility for the program is focused on low-income homeowners who are unable to maintain the exteriors of their home due to factors such as age, family circumstances or a disability, according to Hicks.

The homeowner is responsible for the cost of repair materials.

“The cost and a payment plan will be based on a sliding scale considering number of persons in the household and gross monthly income,” he said. “Volunteers provide the labor to ensure an affordable cost.”

Habitat requires the homeowner, along with family and friends, if needed, to partner with the volunteers by physically working on the project if possible, said Hicks. Other assistance may be used, such as providing snacks to the workers as well.

For more information about the partnership or to request an application, visit www.farmvillehabitat.org. Justin Hicks can be reached at justinhicks@vaumc.org.