Site Partner: The Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization

Available:  Two (2) positions beginning September 1, 2008

Deadline:  June 8, 2008

Decision:  July 6, 2008

Contact:  bryan@designcorps.org

Job Description:

COMMUNITY NEED:

Hale County is a very rural community without much corporate or philanthropic support. While the population faces many long-term challenges, the lack of standard-meeting housing has been one of the most critical and health threatening issues.  The Area Median Income in Hale County is just over 50% of the national average. Over 26.9% of the county's population, and 34% of children live below the poverty line. The unemployment is 160% of the national average. Only 65% of the population holds a high school degree. Currently, over 35% of all housing in Hale County is mobile homes. There are 500% more homes without plumbing and 330% more homes without a complete kitchen than the national average. (All data from US Census.) Building new housing has been a great challenge -- in 1999, only eighteen new homes were built in Greensboro, the Hale County seat. The lack of new homes available for purchase coupled with an aging and deteriorating housing stock demonstrates a great need for new housing and homeownership opportunities. In October of 2005, Hale County was claimed a Hurricane Katrina disaster area, showing that the existing challenge was increased due to an additional loss of housing. 

FELLOW’S ROLE:

The Fellows will be responsible for working on the design and construction administration of affordable single-family housing and small subdivisions within the City of Greensboro and Hale County in the interest of creating new opportunities for affordable homeownership.  These housing opportunities will be coupled with a Youth Build Grant, Rural Development’s 502 and Self-Help Housing Programs, Auburn’s Rural Studio, Habitat for Humanity, and other low-interest housing opportunities.  The Fellow will also work on housing funded through the Federal Home Loan Bank and/or the Housing Assistance Council to assist with funding and fulfill HERO’s sustainability plan.  The Members will also assist with the volunteers that are recruited to help with these projects. Annually volunteers have come to work with HERO and provided a critical asset to repairing and building new homes. These groups, some such as a group of karate instructors called the Black belt challenge are as large as 100 people, will be coordinated by the Fellows.  Note that these activities focus on planning and landscape issues, rather than direct an architectural design activity.

GOALS:

• Manage development of three affordable housing subdivisions including meeting with residents -- 6 community meetings with 15 people each
• Coordinate all technical aspects of subdivisions and housing with volunteer designers and engineers.
• Complete layouts for two subdivisions of 10 housing lot
• Coordinate 100 volunteers in construction of new affordable houses .
• Expand relationships with local and distant groups not currently engaged in volunteering.
• Increase number of qualified applicants for housing

TARGET RESULTS:

• Increased affordable housing stock in ?? county
• Larger scale development of housing development provided through subdivisions
• Increased number of women holding jobs who benefit from affordable, safe child care facilities.
• Improved economic and social conditions through affordable and safe housing
  

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate will have:

• A degree in architecture.
• Experience/study in construction, urban design, urban policy, community service, non-profit or non-governmental organizations is a plus but not required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work with diverse groups, and the demonstrated capacity to move between cultures, disciplines, and professions.
• Highly organized and motivated.