Keller Woman's Housing Plight Indicative of Problems
1. Digital Collections: Daily Times Text 07/02/2010 03:38 PM
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Page 3 of 25 Archive: Daily Times Text - 25 documents found.
Full text: "Malissa Watterson"
- Wednesday, June 30, 2010
City:
State:
Section: ESN
Page:
From:
Source:
Edition:
Publication:
Keller woman's housing plight indicative of problems
Is unsuccessful in finding aid for dilapidated family home
KELLER -- Inside her cramped living room, 80-year-old Mary Davis rests in an armchair a close distance from
the leaking, crumbling ceiling in the corner.
Cane in hand, she sits on top of decaying floorboards that have caused dips in the floral carpet and an incline
that reaches to the back of the room.
For several years now, Davis has watched the one-story home where she was born and raised slowly
deteriorate.
In addition to the rotting floors and ceilings, the house has no heating system, leaving Davis to heat her home
in the winter months with electrical heaters.
Just like every homeowner, Davis would like to be able to live comfortably.
"All I want is a decent place to live and lay my head and keep warm," said Davis.
However, her plight illustrates the frustration of Eastern Shore families who live in squalor but don't qualify for
the limited help available. Many like Davis feel a sentimental attachment to their properties and would like to
stay on the land.
Since 2003, Davis has been asking local housing and nonprofit agencies to help resolve the structural and
heating issues in her home.
The only help she has received thus far has been from the Eastern Shore Area Agency on Aging when they
hired a contractor to replace her bedroom ceiling two years ago.
Davis tried to apply for a home several times with the Eastern Shore Habitat for Humanity, but with each
attempt she didn't receive approval.
Her small monthly income from Social Security prevented costly self-repairs to the floors, which in turn denied
her proper heating from the ESAAA.
According to ESAAA's CEO, Diane Musso, heating energy assistance can only be provided to those low-income
homes that are energy efficient.
ESAAA suggested to Davis that she move into the Peter Cartwright Manor Apartments in Exmore, but she
http://10.7.216.32/archives/archive/search/_1278097850/?search[page]=3 Page 1 of 3
2. Digital Collections: Daily Times Text 07/02/2010 03:38 PM
turned down the idea of living someplace other than her home.
"I'd rather be in my own house if I can help it," said Davis.
Davis also tried to purchase a small trailer to put onto her property, but was turned down after she learned her
identity had been stolen and she had bad credit.
"I always keep getting the door slammed in my face," said Davis.
From 2000 to 2009, a total of 382 people from low-income homes were placed into elderly and general
occupancy rental housing units, according to the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission.
According to Elaine Meil, executive director of ANDPC, currently there is a need for 484 elderly and 673 general
occupancy rental housing units.
Like Davis, many low-income residents would rather repair their homes than move into a rental housing unit.
For homes that lack indoor plumbing, the ANDPC offers an indoor rehabilitation program, where they place new
plumbing into the house.
If a home needs floor or ceiling repairs, however, the ANDPC can only offer help if the home is located within a
particular neighborhood.
"The government is tied to improving neighborhoods so we can only help the neighborhoods that are under the
community development block grant," said Meil.
Those two neighborhoods are West Fairview in Northampton County and Metompkin in Accomack County.
Meil mentioned that if one area contains several low-income homes that need repairs, residents could apply for
a housing project in their town.
Low-income residents' last option is applying for the 504 government loan program.
Those that qualify for the 30-year, 1 percent fixed interest loan can use the borrowed money to repair home
damages.
If someone is denied the 504 loan because of a bad credit history, ANDPC will help that applicant improve their
credit score so they can apply again in the future.
Rendi Satchell, Davis' 56-year-old niece who frequently stays with her, says that her aunt "cannot stay another
winter in the house."
The cold winter air that fills the kitchen forces Davis to remain in her bedroom where she keeps a small
electrical heater.
"It gets too cold to go into the kitchen so I just keep food in my room and stay there in the wintertime," said
Davis.
A couple of yards from the front door of Davis' home lies the graves of her deceased husband, two sons,
mother and father under a small patch of trees.
Davis' headstone, directly next to her husband's, is engraved with all of the necessary information except for
her date of death.
After gazing at the tombstones of her deceased loved ones, Davis remarks on what she'll lose if she has to
leave her home.
"If I leave my house I leave my family," said Davis. "They're all I've got left."
Caption:Mary Davis shows a group of family graves at her dilapidated home in Keller. Davis' home is crumbling
around her, but she hopes to stay there and make repairs. She was born and raised in the home.
Malissa Watterson photos
Mary Davis, left, and her niece, Rendi Satchell, stand in Davis' cramped kitchen.
Element:
Graphic:
Image:
Resale: Yes
Keywords:
Subkeys: ESN01
Subject:
Day:
Book:
Byline: Malissa Watterson
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3. Digital Collections: Daily Times Text 07/02/2010 03:38 PM
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![Digital Collections: Daily Times Text 07/02/2010 03:38 PM
Archives Desks Collections Journals Currently logged in as tshockley .
Filter: Menu
Search
Section Letter Byline Page Publication Section New search
B (2) Malissa Watterson (22) 1 (1) The Daily Times (4) ESN (12) Refresh
GREG MERRITT (1) 2 (1) Eastern Shore News (3) NEWS (6)
ENTERTAINMENT (3) Actions
Add to Collection
LIFESTYLE (2)
All results into Collection
BIRTHS & OBITUARIES (1) Create Collection
LOCAL NEWS - INSIDE (1) Find similar documents
Text Print Preview
Page 3 of 25 Archive: Daily Times Text - 25 documents found.
Full text: "Malissa Watterson"
- Wednesday, June 30, 2010
City:
State:
Section: ESN
Page:
From:
Source:
Edition:
Publication:
Keller woman's housing plight indicative of problems
Is unsuccessful in finding aid for dilapidated family home
KELLER -- Inside her cramped living room, 80-year-old Mary Davis rests in an armchair a close distance from
the leaking, crumbling ceiling in the corner.
Cane in hand, she sits on top of decaying floorboards that have caused dips in the floral carpet and an incline
that reaches to the back of the room.
For several years now, Davis has watched the one-story home where she was born and raised slowly
deteriorate.
In addition to the rotting floors and ceilings, the house has no heating system, leaving Davis to heat her home
in the winter months with electrical heaters.
Just like every homeowner, Davis would like to be able to live comfortably.
"All I want is a decent place to live and lay my head and keep warm," said Davis.
However, her plight illustrates the frustration of Eastern Shore families who live in squalor but don't qualify for
the limited help available. Many like Davis feel a sentimental attachment to their properties and would like to
stay on the land.
Since 2003, Davis has been asking local housing and nonprofit agencies to help resolve the structural and
heating issues in her home.
The only help she has received thus far has been from the Eastern Shore Area Agency on Aging when they
hired a contractor to replace her bedroom ceiling two years ago.
Davis tried to apply for a home several times with the Eastern Shore Habitat for Humanity, but with each
attempt she didn't receive approval.
Her small monthly income from Social Security prevented costly self-repairs to the floors, which in turn denied
her proper heating from the ESAAA.
According to ESAAA's CEO, Diane Musso, heating energy assistance can only be provided to those low-income
homes that are energy efficient.
ESAAA suggested to Davis that she move into the Peter Cartwright Manor Apartments in Exmore, but she
http://10.7.216.32/archives/archive/search/_1278097850/?search[page]=3 Page 1 of 3](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/mrsdavisdailytimestext-100707222825-phpapp01/85/Keller-Woman-s-Housing-Plight-Indicative-of-Problems-1-320.jpg)
![Digital Collections: Daily Times Text 07/02/2010 03:38 PM
turned down the idea of living someplace other than her home.
"I'd rather be in my own house if I can help it," said Davis.
Davis also tried to purchase a small trailer to put onto her property, but was turned down after she learned her
identity had been stolen and she had bad credit.
"I always keep getting the door slammed in my face," said Davis.
From 2000 to 2009, a total of 382 people from low-income homes were placed into elderly and general
occupancy rental housing units, according to the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission.
According to Elaine Meil, executive director of ANDPC, currently there is a need for 484 elderly and 673 general
occupancy rental housing units.
Like Davis, many low-income residents would rather repair their homes than move into a rental housing unit.
For homes that lack indoor plumbing, the ANDPC offers an indoor rehabilitation program, where they place new
plumbing into the house.
If a home needs floor or ceiling repairs, however, the ANDPC can only offer help if the home is located within a
particular neighborhood.
"The government is tied to improving neighborhoods so we can only help the neighborhoods that are under the
community development block grant," said Meil.
Those two neighborhoods are West Fairview in Northampton County and Metompkin in Accomack County.
Meil mentioned that if one area contains several low-income homes that need repairs, residents could apply for
a housing project in their town.
Low-income residents' last option is applying for the 504 government loan program.
Those that qualify for the 30-year, 1 percent fixed interest loan can use the borrowed money to repair home
damages.
If someone is denied the 504 loan because of a bad credit history, ANDPC will help that applicant improve their
credit score so they can apply again in the future.
Rendi Satchell, Davis' 56-year-old niece who frequently stays with her, says that her aunt "cannot stay another
winter in the house."
The cold winter air that fills the kitchen forces Davis to remain in her bedroom where she keeps a small
electrical heater.
"It gets too cold to go into the kitchen so I just keep food in my room and stay there in the wintertime," said
Davis.
A couple of yards from the front door of Davis' home lies the graves of her deceased husband, two sons,
mother and father under a small patch of trees.
Davis' headstone, directly next to her husband's, is engraved with all of the necessary information except for
her date of death.
After gazing at the tombstones of her deceased loved ones, Davis remarks on what she'll lose if she has to
leave her home.
"If I leave my house I leave my family," said Davis. "They're all I've got left."
Caption:Mary Davis shows a group of family graves at her dilapidated home in Keller. Davis' home is crumbling
around her, but she hopes to stay there and make repairs. She was born and raised in the home.
Malissa Watterson photos
Mary Davis, left, and her niece, Rendi Satchell, stand in Davis' cramped kitchen.
Element:
Graphic:
Image:
Resale: Yes
Keywords:
Subkeys: ESN01
Subject:
Day:
Book:
Byline: Malissa Watterson
http://10.7.216.32/archives/archive/search/_1278097850/?search[page]=3 Page 2 of 3](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)