UNION VILLAGE UPDATE

It takes a village to build a Village.

PHFC has partnered with AIDB since 2017 to offer Union Village, a permanent supportive housing community for individuals who are deaf, blind, deafblind, or multi-disabled. PHFC operates Union Village on a separate and secluded part of its campus for AIDB consumers.

Crews from Talladega-based Graham Davis Construction have almost finished work on a major new addition of tiny cottages in Union Village. The construction project adds six tiny cottages (two 500-square-foot homes per duplex) to the four existing small cottages at Union Village, unique and unmatched in the nation. These tiny cottages continue to feature special accommodations and accessibility designed especially for the blind, deaf, deafblind, or multi-disabled community.

“These cottages will bless the lives of the AIDB consumers who will live here, and the rent will help the Home fulfill its mission to fund our care of children,” said Bud Kitchin, vice president of operations for the Home and overseer of the project. “It’s thrilling to be involved with such an innovative project that enables two Talladega institutions to better serve their consumers. I’m especially pleased to be working with a local construction company who builds high quality homes and also knows and appreciates the missions of both institutions.”

The project started in 2022 thanks to grants from The Regions Foundation; the city of Talladega; Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.; the Holle Family Foundation; KODA Technologies, Inc.; and The Caring Foundation, in addition to a gift from the congregation of Shades Valley Presbyterian Church and a second grant in 2023 from the city of Talladega.

In addition to the workers and the donors, the project required a temporary construction loan, in this case a community revitalization loan financed by another Talladega institution, First Bank of Alabama. FBA President and CEO Chad Jones said, “Our part was simple: provide funding for a community enhancement that positively affects those with a need.”

“The project was something we supported from Day 1, and it has been a pleasure to see these continue to be a success,” Jones said about the Presbyterian Home. “Their vision, along with AIDB, has been immaculate. Growing the hearts and lives of those affected with these new cottages is a masterful project.”

Rental income from Union Village provides an additional funding source for PHFC, which serves at-risk and homeless children, youth, and families in addition to young female adults in crisis and families in crisis. Program participants come from across the entire state of Alabama.

Each new cottage is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. They include zero-step entry, minimal thresholds, 8-foot ceilings, zero-barrier showers and other features. AIDB provides full wrap-around support services to Union Village residents such as job coaching, case management, transportation, assistive technology, and more.

Volunteers Fill Campus With Teamwork

It’s been a busy summer at the Home with volunteers coming over several weeks in June to help us in a big way on campus, at Union Village, and at the PHFC Thrift Store.

We’ve welcomed at least a dozen churches to provide a hand with landscaping at campus and sorting through donations at our new 20,000 square foot thrift store that is packed with awesome merchandise for sale.

We’ve had a visit from Auburn Opelika Korean Church which was a group of students and adults led by Rev. Samuel Kim.

Thanks to our partnerships with Student Life Camp and YM360 at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center also in Talladega, they refer many volunteer groups to the Home during their summer camps.

We had incredible visits from Double Oak Community Church, Wadley Baptist Church, Manna Church, First Baptist Church of Zebulon, Georgia, Brushy Creek Baptist Church, United Community Church, and First Baptist Church of Greeneville, Tennessee, helping improve our facilities which help serve those entrusted to our care.

The Alabama summer heat and rain hasn’t slowed down our volunteers as they have made major progress with general cleanup and organizing around campus, at Union Village, and at the PHFC Thrift Store.

Our hearts are overflowing with deep gratitude!