Burleys' New House and
New Hope

"I don't know that I could pull through another winter in this house."  This is the first thing that  Ms. Burley tells me in a soft-spoken voice as we sit down for an interview.  We are in a room that appears to double as a living room and a bedroom.  This is the home that she has grown up in, and it is the only home she has ever known. It is quite literally falling down around her.

She apologizes about not being able to cut on an overhead light.  "It's because the roof has leaked so much, I was told it wasn't safe."  I have to stop and really consider what it would be like to live in a house where flipping a light switch is dangerous.

The home is tucked away, not a place that you'd ever see unless you knew it was there. This is one of the hidden pockets of poverty in Hanover County, and I realize what a sheltered life I've led the minute I walk through her door.  Betty keeps her house up the best she can, but it is immediately obvious that it is severely dilapidated.

Outside, the Burleys' new Habitat home is being constructed only a few feet away from the existing home.  The contrast between the two is remarkable.  "This is going to be such a big change for us," she says, referring to herself and the disabled brother that she resides with and cares for.  I ask what she is most looking forward to about the new home, which will be finished this month.  She smiles and says, "Things not being broken."

The Burley's new home is truly a labor of love.  Significant contributions were raised from the community, including a $20,000 grant from Friends of Hanover.  Another housing agency, Housing Partnerships, Inc. in Williamsburg, granted over $68,000.  These funds, combined with volunteer labor and the ability to construct the home on land that the Burleys already own, is keeping the cost (and the mortgage) very low.

When the new home is complete, the old home will be demolished.  "We've been trying to put the necessary pieces together to build the Burley's new home for several years," notes Executive Director Tim Bowring.  "I can't tell you how wonderful it was to finally break ground.  It is an incredible thing to see our community come together to help this family move into a safe and decent home.

The project is even more special because it will be dedicated in loving memory of Tom Hale III, who for many years was a Hanover Habitat volunteer.  His life was cut short in 2005.  He was the son of Tom Hale, Jr. who was a construction supervisor at Hanover Habitat, and an advocate for safe, affordable housing in Hanover County.  "Mr. Hale has been the biggest blessing to me" Betty says.  "He was the person I spoke with when I first called Hanover Habitat.  He came out and inspected our house and said 'I am going to help you build a new home.'"  Mr. Hale adds, "All I can say is that I was with Habitat almost 8 years, and this is the most deserving family that I've ever come across.  I'm very pleased that it's finally coming together."

Ms. Burley has devoted her life to caring for her disabled brother, but she notes that there are several family members and friends that she wants to thank for their support, including Ellison Burley, Henry Burley, Bessie and Willie Miller, Ann Burley, and Arlene Miller.

As we wrap up our interview, Ms. Burley gazes out the window and nods towards the volunteers who are installing the exterior siding on her new home and says "God has really blessed me.  I thank Him every day for all the blessings He has given me."