Clocktower Realty Group: helping the needy

Sometimes we want to do something good for our community but when we're busy and we have a business that is thriving, it may be hard to find the time. The easiest thing you can do, if you are able to, is write a check to a charity. It takes no time to do that and it can also serve as a tax write off. Sometimes, that's just not enough or what's needed. I have said it before but I will say it again, I believe that if I can improve the community that I live in, then i'd be more fulfilled both in my career and in my personal life. Does it feel good? Absolutely, but by helping some of these causes, we're improving the community as a whole - something that we can all benefit from.

As a Realtor, I know that buying a home is an exhilarating feeling for most. There's people who save their whole lives just to be able to buy a house, but for some, it may be a dream that they may never achieve. This is where Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity comes in, they make affordable housing for those individuals that fall in the low income category and don't have the means.

From their website:

"Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 as a non-profit, non-proselytizing Christian housing ministry. Since its inception, Habitat has helped build over 400,000 homes for more than 2 million people around the world.

The Richmond Habitat chapter joined the affordable housing effort in 1986. Since then, we’ve built more than 300 homes for deserving families. Along with our partner families, generous volunteers and donors, we have restored the hope and dignity that poverty housing often strips away."

They not only rely on charitable donations but also in people's time. This is a cause that speaks directly to my industry and therefore felt it was important for me to help them out. Matt and I we're fortunate enough to volunteer at the "Restore" location. This is another source of income for them, in which building and home improvement supplies are donated and they resell them for a discounted price. The donated items sometimes need organizing, cleaning or just stocking. The day that we volunteered there was a lot of other people there offering their time which was very uplifting.

To learn more about this organization and all the good things that they do for Richmond, visit their site by clicking here.

When I first got involved with the Good Samaritan Ministries I thought it was just another organization that helped those who were down on their luck and just needed a little boost. Maybe a place to eat and sleep for a few months while they got their lives together. I had heard about them but didn’t know much. I met Pastor Mike, who oversees the operations of the facilities, and he was kind enough to give me a walk through of what their program actually entails.

Recovery

Their program begins with help for those individuals who may not have a place to go to due to drugs or alcohol abuse. Some of these individuals may have gotten out of jail and have no loved ones or friends who can help them out, getting a second opportunity can be very challenging for some of them. So they have a shared living space where they are placed and monitored, they are given a place to sleep, hang out and are properly fed. This doesn’t all come for free though, they are required to do tasks like help with cooking, do laundry and clean the quarters. They take turns doing this because the Ministries' mission is not just to help them but to teach them to help themselves. Which brings us to our next point.

Training

The Ministries believe that just housing someone who is going through a rough patch is not enough, because this is a temporary fix. Instead they believe in providing a trade skill that they may not already have so that way when they leave the program they can be on their own and be a productive member of society. They have an onsite car repair shop, they get lots of cars donated to them so they can fix them, turn them around and sell them for an affordable price. This teaches them a skill and in the process they make a small profit so they can house more individuals. A lot of the times these cars are sold back to the individuals that are housed there so they can build their credit back, allowing them to get apartments in the future.

Other skills that they learn are landscaping, construction, repairs and maintenance, carpentry and cooking. In some cases the Ministries will partner with different companies so they get paid a basic salary which allows them to cover the cost of their stay with the Ministries, teaching them the basics of finances and responsibility. If they decide to buy a car, it is at no interest to them. The skills that they learn are also used to maintain the properties of the Ministries.

Housing

When they first get accepted into the Ministries, they are housed in a communal space for six months but after that time they are transferred to apartments that are located within the property. These apartments house two people so they will have a roommates to give them a sense of independence but at the same time they can keep an eye on each other. They pay rent with some of the jobs and tasks they do on and off site. This is a fantastic way to maintain a sense of independence while getting support and supervision from the Ministries.

Education

In the downtown area it is difficult to get specialized or private education. For those parents that want a better future for their kids, the Ministries have a full fledged school that includes all grades. There is one teacher for every ten students but it's typically closer to one teacher for every six to eight kids. The Ministries only charge them what the families can afford, which is kind of amazing given the fact that they are getting the closest thing to a private education that the Ministries can give them. They also receive some food because some of these families may not be able to provide them with a healthy meal before and during school.

They also have facilities to conduct masses, funerals, baptisms along any other religious services that are necessary for the community. It’s incredible to see how much this group of individuals, lead by Pastor Mike, can and will do for the surrounding areas. It really is a selfless act that relies on charities and donations from all over including private individuals such as myself and big businesses like local grocery stores and restaurants. I feel a really personal connection to these people because I think giving back to the community will only make us all better.