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Our 33rd Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers ISSUE NO. 24 • June 12, 2025 • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408
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RHP celebrates 30 years of helping low income homeowners live safe Article by Jean Gordon.
income households into the mix. RHP secured housing that needed to be torn down, providing lots for more Habitat Rutherford Housing Partnership (RHP) houses. celebrated its 30 year anniversary The Spindale project took off, recently, marking a significant milestone in eventually coming to the attention of its mission to provide safe and affordable the new Dogwood Health Trust and housing for Rutherford County residents. Gateway Foundation, as a model for other A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at communities - combining cooperation the new RHP-owned duplex apartment between nonprofits and municipalities, in Spindale in conjunction with RHP’s between volunteers and funders. Housing Matters program. Tricia Wheat, RHP’s program manager The purchase of the duplex was RHP staff, Women Roofers at the ribbon cutting recently as Nell Bovender, representing the made possible through RHP’s partners; Women Roofers and Michael Lewis, RHP Executive Director lead the ceremony at the duplex said in the past 30 years more 2,200 repairs have been made to homes in The Stonecutter Foundation, Dogwood apartment in Spindale. (Contributed photo) Rutherford County. “RHP serves about 30 Health Trust, The Town of Spindale, Foothills Regional Commission HUD become a home and with it, the promise more and more calls from low-income homes a month and some of the homes homeowners who needed home repairs, may have one to five repairs,” she said. Home Program and Gateway Wellness of a brighter future,” said Lewis. Wheat and Lewis are among eight staff Introducing former executive director and that was not a service Yokefellow Foundation. The rental payments will go toward other RHP projects, said Executive Nell Bovender who also spoke at the provided, Bovender explained. The members who work to serve the people anniversary ribbon cutting, Lewis said, assembled group went to work, and in of Rutherford County. Most of the staff are Director Michael Lewis. “This is another important step in “RHP would not be what it is today without 1995, Rutherford Housing Partnership hands-on construction and repair workers our mission to improve the quality and the vision, perseverance and compassion was incorporated to provide urgently on the job sites each day. Veteran Home increase the supply of safe, affordable of those who came before us.” Bovender needed repairs to the homes of low- Services contracts with RHP for much of the work. housing for low income residents of was RHP executive director from 2002 to income homeowners. Home repairs can be as simple as RHP was modeled after Habitat for 2020. Rutherford County,” Lewis said. “I feel like a proud grandmother...seeing Humanity and volunteers would provide installing a door to building ramps, He said the duplex stands as a testament to “what we can accomplish the fruits of the seeds that were planted the labor and the organization would raise installing new floors, windows, plumbing repairs and electrical work; repairing a roof when vision, community and generosity so long ago. I know Billy (Honeycutt) too, the funds. “Housing in this county was old; or completely roofing a home, painting, come together. Today we don’t just cut a is proud,” Bovender said as she stood in ribbon - we open the door to hope, stability the living area of the apartment, as she the needs were many,” Bovender said. building walls and installing new bathroom and opportunity for the families who will remembered a founder of RHP. (Honeycutt “The community responded, funders fixtures. When Hurricane Helene devastated passed away in 2023) two years prior to responded and for 30 years, RHP has soon call the duplex home,” Lewis said. worked to improve housing in this county.” so many homes in Rutherford County, The apartments were built by Cardinal the opening of the apartment. In 2010, the RHP board decided to act RHP and Habitat for Humanity continued Honeycutt served as Board President Homes and placed on property, “what once was two blighted houses has of RHP for several years. As a board on another housing need that was evident: their work together to repair the homes. chair Honeycutt and other RHP repairs to substandard rental housing. The two nonprofits have received over staff and volunteers traveled to Beginning with a couple donated houses $1 million for hurricane damage. Anyone a Cardinal Homes building site. that RHP repaired, adding others that with hurricane damage may contact RHP When they returned, Honeycutt became available, RHP began a small (828-248-3431, ext. 100) to inquire about told the board it would be delighted rental arm of the nonprofit, Bovender repairs “We’ve have never done the capacity with the home and encouraged explained. “So that gets us to the project we’re of repair work we are doing today,” Wheat the purchase of the home. “A little over 30 years ago, the focusing on in Spindale - a brand new said. Under the umbrella of RHP is the late Rev. Billy Honeycutt answered duplex for rent for moderate-income a call for help,” Bovender told the households,” Bovender said. She was Women Roofers that began with a Sunday ground breaking group. Yokefellow approached in 2018 by Jim Cowan from School class project as only two women showed up to help Rev. Honeycutt. Service Center was receiving the Stonecutter Foundation. Nell Bovender addresses the crowd inside the duplex. In an RHP video, Honeycutt talks about Let’s talk about Spindale,” the an elderly woman who got a new roof Foundation’s leader told Bovender. “This wonderful new trail ran right through the Women Roofers and RHP. The homeowner told Honeycutt after through the middle of town,” he told Bovender referring to the Thermal Belt the roofing job was completed, “I’ll be able Rail Trail and he wanted to help improve to sleep tonight. I won’t get wet.” An emotional Honeycutt said in the the appearance of the nearby housing, much of which was abandoned and video, “that means a lot to know you have been able to change that situation for unsafe. A group included the local Habitat someone. A simple thing yet, it made a big for Humanity chapter, Spindale Town difference. It has to make our community Manager Scott Webber, County Planner stronger...that this is a way to invest your Danny Searcy, members of the RHP life.” RHP estimates at least 170 homes will board, and local builder Jimmy Hooper. The goal was to build two additional be repaired this year. The need for safe, secure housing houses in a neighborhood that included RHP was gifted this new shower trailer by Golden Leaf Foundation and can be used throughout the county. It includes a shower, four washers and four dryers. Habitat houses, bringing moderate- continues, as does the dedication.
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