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Poole's wife, children will still get Habitat house
While on trial for murder in Fauquier County Circuit Court, Anthony James Poole testified that as of last September, his family was in the process of getting a new house, courtesy of Fauquier Habitat for Humanity.
That is still the case.
Jack Flikeid, the organization's executive director, said Habitat for Humanity finds potential partner families through area churches.
“We ask [pastors or clergy] to make an announcement from the pulpit to see if there is anyone in need of a new home who is living in poverty,” Flikeid said. Prospective homeowners then contact the organization directly.
Flikeid said Anthony James Poole's wife Renita contacted the organization two years ago. At the time, Renita, Anthony their two children and Renita's father, Robert Eugene Hawkins Sr., were all living in a 400-square-foot house, Flikeid said. There was no running water and no indoor plumbing.
Renita went through the application process and met all three criteria needed in order to be approved for a Habitat house: the family demonstrated need, had sufficient income to pay Habitat's zero-interest mortgage, and demonstrated a willingness to contribute 400 hours of 'sweat equity' working on the home, Flikeid said. The approval was also based on credit and employment checks.
“Renita's father owned the land and was willing to have a house built [there] for all of them,” Flikeid said. “We had to get her father's signature on a document to transfer the land to Habitat while we were building the house. Once we were done, the home and land would be deeded back to him.”
But Robert Eugene Hawkins Sr. was murdered [by Anthony James Poole] the day before he was supposed to sign the papers, Flikeid said.
“We had to start from square one, then figure out where to go from there,” he said.
As recently as two weeks ago, the complex court procedure involving sale of the land and division of its asset value between Renita and her children needed in order for the Habitat project to move forward hadn't happened.
Once that occurs, Habitat will buy half the land from Renita and half from her children in order to build the house.
“Everything is moving through the courts now, and I'd like to think that we'll be ready to start [on the new house] in the fall,” Flikeid said.
The Poole's new home has already been ordered. It is a panelized home, meaning it is shipped with the walls already built and the windows in place. Habitat volunteers will do the drywall, painting, and installation of the plumbing and utilities, Flikeid said.
When completed, the new home will have three bedrooms and one-and-a-half bathrooms.
“It will be a very nice home for them,” Flikeid said. “It would be wonderful if we could get them in by the beginning of the new year.”
E-mail the reporter: abogdanovic@timespapers.com
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