2 Chester city leaders helping fix homes of those in need. The list of homes is long.
Candy Gore needed a new roof. Now, two Chester city council members are helping her get one.
The two city leaders have been able to get work on houses done through partnerships with public officials, private officials and nonprofit organizations. City Councilman Carlos Williams organizes the labor, while City Councilwoman Angela Douglas coordinates donations of materials.
Rebuilding projects are not new in Chester County. In 2018, the nonprofit organization Harvest Call Ministries came to town. Normally, the organization focuses on natural disasters. Douglas said in Chester the organization saw “financial disaster.”
There were people living in homes that needed work, and the occupants couldn’t afford it.
Partnering with nonprofit I-58, an organization that helps with food and housing needs, Harvest Call helped build some new homes. About 200-300 people had applied for the help. Williams and Douglas haven’t forgotten.
Gore was one of the names on that list. On Tuesday, the work on her new roof started.
She and her son, Gavin Gore, are active in their community. Their nonprofit, “Boys, Books and Bowties,” helps provide scholarships for kids struggling in school to buy books.
“(Candy Gore) was deserving, because of all the work she does, and her son does, in the community,” Williams said. “We’re just getting to her.”
Williams said he and Douglas try to focus on those who need the most help: single parents, veterans, the elderly and the disabled.
Williams, Douglas and Stuart were at Gore’s home Tuesday to see the work done. They also watched as a crew rebuilt a roof for Jackie Caldwell, who is disabled.
“She’s always helping in the community,” Williams said. “Those are the people we’re trying to help.”
It’s a community effort, Douglas said.
Improved housing is part of the county’s strategic plan, County Council Chair Shane Stuart said. In support, the county has waived waste disposal fees for the projects.
The repairs going on this week used shingles donated by roofing company GAF.
County Councilman Alex Oliphant also aids with these projects. He connected Mark McAteer, a plant manager for GAF, with Douglas and Williams to obtain the shingles.
McAteer said plant employees wanted to see GAF help the community. They requested funding from their corporate office that allowed this project to come to fruition.
Columbia-based Graham & Sons is doing the work to build the roof.
Along with Gore and Caldwell, the city has helped to repair and rebuild 120-130 homes, Williams said.
“I would like to thank everyone who was involved,” Gore said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Need help?
Chester residents who need work on their homes can contact Councilwoman Angela Douglas or Councilman Carlos Williams to be added to the repair list. Douglas can be reached by phone at 803-899-0742 or email at adouglas@chester.sc.gov. Williams can be reached by phone at 803-899-0763 or email at cwilliams@chester.sc.gov. The repairs are given to the neediest recipients first.
