ST. PAULS — The last two hurricanes left a local family’s home beyond repair, but on Monday their brand new home was turned over to them after only 15 days of construction work.
That’s how long it took to demolish the hurricane- and flood-damaged home at 945 E. Broad St. and build a new 1,022-square-foot home from the ground up at the same location. The rebuild, free to the family of Robert, Roberta and Ruby West, was part of the Rebuild North Carolina program. The West home is the first house built in the state through the program.
The program is funded by Community Development Block Grant money funneled through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program received at least $1 million to rehab or rebuild homes, or purchase mobile homes for residents whose homes damaged or destroyed by hurricanes Matthew, in October 2016, and Florence, in September 2018.
The program has seen the rehabilitation, rebuilding or the purchase of mobile homes for 100 people in Robeson County.
Steve Mataro, owner of Texas-based DSW Homes, built the West home. Their home could not be saved, he said.
“They had to go, they 100 percent had to go,” Mataro said. “The residence was unsafe and unsanitary.”
The company used local sub-contractors to help with the work and purchased materials from local businesses.
Robert West, 53, said Hurricane Matthew did the worst damage to their home and believes negatively affected the health of his wife, Roberta.
“It was bad,” he said. “She had pneumonia 30 different times. I think it was because of the dampness.”
The couple didn’t have housing insurance and found out about the Rebuild North Carolina program in September 2017. They were first in Robeson County to sign up for assistance through the county’s Department of Social Services. Still, they did no know if anything good would come from it.
West’s mother, 75-year-old Ruby, who lives with them, remembers how bad it was living in the home damaged by hurricanes.
“We had insects and rodents and cracks in the foundation,” she said. “We prayed many a day to figure out what to do to get out.”
Roberta West, 56, testified about her faith in front of the people gathered for the unveiling of the home, while at the same time trying to hold her emotions in check. She said the new home had everything to do with divine intervention.
“I couldn’t imagine where I could get the money to repair the house,” she said. “I thank God. It was God in it the whole time. Now we have a new home, and I thank God for it.”
It cost about $120,000 to build the two-bedroom house, which came with kitchen appliances. Roberta was able to choose the paint color for the walls.
St. Pauls Mayor Jerry Weindel said he was proud a home in St. Pauls was the first built through the Rebuild North Carolina program. Lance Herndon, a Robeson County Board of Commissioners member, commended the contractors for their work.
“To see a home like this done in less than three weeks time is a super accomplishment,” Herndon said.
The West family will be moving their belongings into their new home during the next few days.
Ruby West is looking forward to using their new dishwasher to do the dishes, instead of doing them by hand.
“I do the dishes and she (Roberta) does the cooking,” Ruby said.
Roberta West sees her new home as a new start.
“After the hurricane, the house was in such bad shape I was ashamed of it,” she said. “Now I feel like it’s a fresh start to see where we can go from here.”
Rebuild North Carolina officials say funds still are available. For information on how to apply dial 2-1-1 or go online to www.rebuild.nc.gov.
