Ramping Up the Neighborhood

by Peggy Fowler

A ramp build recipient in Montclair

The Neighborhood Revitalization (NR) Department manages two programs: Community Development and Home Improvements. COVID-19 has not stopped department operations except for our ability to work personally with neighborhood associations and volunteers. This diminishes our ability to engage in community-building projects and, to a lesser extent, with administering home improvement projects.

The community development aspects of the NR Department have been affected due to safe social distancing and the inability to work with volunteer groups. Community cleanups (Rock-the-Block), A Brush With Kindness (ABWK) exterior home painting projects, and other neighborhood enhancement activities have been postponed, as well as plans for residential leadership training courses. The Home Improvements program has experienced delays in processing and scheduling home repairs (i.e. siding, roofing, code enforcement issues, etc.); however, the handicapped accessible ramp-building program has not been affected.

The accessibility ramp-building program has been able to progress “normally,” and we have extended and expanded our ongoing ramp partnership with Escambia County initiated in early 2019 as a pilot. This partnership has the County supplying funds for ramp building materials and Pensacola Habitat providing the labor to construct the ramps – either paid contractors and/or, when safe, volunteers. Accessible ramps are typically an emergency need, so we are excited to continue building ramps during COVID-19 and trying to keep up with the demand for these facilities.

pensacolahabitat.org/neighborhood-revitalization