Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By the end of this month, a major housing project in Keysville will be complete. Now Piedmont Habitat for Humanity members look back over the work they’ve done, while at the same time detailing the next steps in this multi-county plan. 

First off, let’s talk about how we got here. In February 2022, the Piedmont Habitat for Humanity was awarded a grant in the amount of $946,149 through the Commonwealth Regional Council (CRC) Affordable Workforce Housing Grant. This funding was to be used to build 11 new homes with four in Prince Edward County, three in Nottoway County and five in Charlotte County through June 30, 2025. Originally, the deadline was for June 2024, but it got extended last year. Two more homes have since been added to the list in Nelson County. 

The Farmville homes have been finished for almost a year now. The new homes on Andrews Drive and Parkview Drive have families inside. The same goes for Nottoway. One of the Nelson homes is still being finished, but the others in Charlotte County are either move-in ready or just days away from occupancy permits. 

The final one, in Keysville, is the last to be completed. It holds a couple of distinctions. First, as a five bedroom home, it’s the largest Piedmont Habitat ever built. Second, it’s expected to have everything completed by the end of this month. 

“That home is for a multigenerational family – grandma, mom, and kids,” said Mary Shepherd. She serves as Director of Engagement and Communications for Piedmont Habitat. “It’s exciting seeing our biggest project yet, and these homes coming to life took many hands on board.” 

Piedmont Habitat building at scale

Planning for the Keysville builds began in September 2024, with ground broken shortly thereafter. The homes were built on Ashley Way off of June Lane right in Keysville. All homes were built on land owned or donated to Piedmont Habitat, a common practice that streamlines the selection process and ensures long-term affordability. 

Through grant funding and support from Virginia Housing and the Commonwealth Regional Council, Piedmont Habitat has been able to significantly scale its work. One of the biggest parts of this year’s project is that previously, Piedmont was building only one to two homes per year, with the organization now being able to complete eight homes in 2025’s project. “That’s more-than doubling the impact compared to the past projects. That kind of scale means we can help more families– and faster,” Shepherd said. 

A foundation for life

Habitat’s impact also extends beyond construction sites. Families applying for homes must meet the qualifications, including income guidelines and willingness to partner with Habitat; that partnership often includes sweat equity, working to help build their or other future homes. 

“It’s inspiring to see these families doing whatever it takes to create a better life,” said Shepherd. “Some come from houses with foundation or mold problems, or unmanageable electric bills. Now they’re working toward a home they helped build.” 

Habitat homes are not free, as families enter into affordable mortgages and receive financial counseling to prepare for homeownership. “They’re building more than houses, they’re building futures,” Shepherd said. 

Working with partners 

A major reason for the project’s efficiency was by partnering with Southside Homes and Cardinal Homes. The type of home being put together has helped with the timeframe involvedl. 

A typical build for a home from the ground up can take four to six months to complete. That’s where Cardinal comes in. The Charlotte County based company is building modular homes for the nonprofit, prefabricated buildings that come in sections. Even though they come prebuilt, the quality is the same as a normal Habitat build. 

These Keysville houses were prefabricated indoors in a warehouse at the partners’ site, then moved to the onsite location and finished– saving time and avoiding weather delays. 

“We realized that by thinking creatively and working with local builders, we could move faster while meeting all housing codes the same,” Shepherd said. 

Students at Nelson County High School also contributed, helping frame homes as part of a volunteer affiliate program. “Even before we started working with them, Nelson has helped construct over 25 houses through the years,” Shepherd said. “Getting youth involved is one of the best parts of this work, we’d love to have more high schools contribute.” 

Other groups, like Building Goodness Foundation in Charlottesville, also provided critical support, especially in Nelson. 

What’s next for Piedmont Habitat?

Well, this project worked and made deadline, so why not try it again? Looking ahead, Piedmont Habitat plans to build 11 more homes over the next two years. And the service area is no small one. “We’re now reaching Buckingham, Cumberland, Charlotte, Nelson, Nottoway, and Prince Edward counties,” Shepherd noted. “That’s about the same square footage as Delaware, which is quite awesome if you think about it.” 

Still, the mission remains simple and powerful for Piedmont: to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, community, and hope.

“It’s more than a house,” Shepherd said, “It’s a place to build a life. And every home, every family story proves our mission is working.”