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On Jan. 24, Lori Ashbridge of Lexington celebrated with her Habitat support team of volunteers and staff at the dedication of her “forever home,” at 38 Spencer Court in Greenhouse Village.
This day of celebration was a culmination of hundreds of hours she put in working beside volunteers and other Rockbridge Area Habitat family partners.
When Ashbridge moved back to the states after 17 years abroad, she had some adjusting to do. She needed a driver’s license, health insurance, and to build her credit. But most of all, she needed a suitable place to live. At her mother’s urging, she applied for a Habitat home, and after one year of living in Rockbridge County, she was ready to be approved.
Lori Ashbridge said she especially appreciated the RAHfH required in-house homeowner training class. She said that the class helped her learn “not only how to get a house, but how to keep a house.” She looks forward to learning even more about maintaining her new home – she has set her sights on figuring out plumbing next.
Before she worked on her own place, Ashbridge put in sweat equity on other Greenhouse Village homes, so she feels connected to her future neighbors.
“I like that there is a little bit of me in my neighbors’ houses,” she said.
When neighbor Gina Jones took her on a tour of her Habitat home, Ashbridge was struck by the delight on Jones’ face as she pointed out all the features that she appreciates.
“Its brand new – everything works! Every place I have ever lived before has been held together with spit and baling wire,” said Ashbridge.
Ashbridge’s home is one of 37 Habitat homes to be built in Greenhouse Village. Twenty-six are now owned by Habitat partner families with 11 either in progress or to be built by 2025. All but two have assigned partner families who are already working on their own sweat equity hours.
After Greenhouse Village is completed, Habitat will begin construction at Tricoli Court, formerly known as McCoy Park, where seven lots await their new homes and owners. Rockbridge Area Habitat is excited to be collaborating on this project with the city of Lexington to build a much needed affordable housing neighborhood close to many amenities in town, said Lynne Johnson, executive director of Rockbridge Area Habitat.
Rockbridge Area Habitat offers local, low-income families a hand up, not a hand out as it partners with them to help them build strength, stability, and selfreliance through affordable shelter, noted Johnson.
Greenhouse Village development represents a collaborative partnership between Rockbridge Area Habitat and the following: the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors, the Rockbridge County Planning office, Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, the Department of Housing and Community Development, United States Department of Agriculture — Rural Development, and many local donors and volunteers.
