Youth help rehabilitate LR homes

LITTLE ROCK — Eighteen-year-old Lucas Ardemagni has volunteered to help house people in Mississippi, Texas and Turkey - and Tuesday, for the first time, he worked alongside other young adults to help provide adequate shelter for those in his home state of Arkansas.

Ardemagni is a volunteer with World Changers, an international nonprofit that sends youths to work with agencies that provide adequate housing to lowincome people. The group will repair 15 homes this summer, its ninth partnering with Little Rock. The teams are typically made up of 12-15 youths fromacross the country.

“God works through people, and as far as I’m concerned, that should be me,” said Ardemagni, who is a member of North Park Baptist Church in Van Buren. “I love to come help people out, and share Jesus with them while I do it.”

The materials for the projects are funded through the city’s Community Development Block Grants Housing Division, in the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs. Working with the volunteer group eliminates labor costs, city spokesman Meg Matthews said. Eligible homeowners applied in the fall to be chosen for this summer. To be eligible, the homeowner must occupy the residence, meet income guidelines and be at least 62 years old or disabled.

In the hot Arkansas sun Tuesday, World Changers crews worked on two houses on Avon Place in Little Rock. They repaired wood damage, repainted and replaced the roof on 80-year-old EarlBrown’s home. Brown said his house cost $9,000 to build 54 years ago, and the repairs are much needed. He said if he wasn’t selected for the program, he would have had to borrow money to replace the roof.

“It’s just good to see young people doing this kind of work - it’s unusual,” Brown said.

Before working in Little Rock, the Nashville-based organization repaired homes in Fort Smith, Pine Bluff and West Memphis.

This summer, 19,000 young adults are volunteering through World Changers, 215 of which are coming to Little Rock and staying at Life Line Baptist Church for the week. This is the organization’s 22nd year.

“Each team is made upof a conglomeration of 10 churches - they not only get to work on houses, but they get to build relationships across the country,” said Anthony Rhodes, World Changers project coordinator and a Benton resident. “The part that I’ve noticed is the excitement it brings to a neighborhood. Especially in the afternoon, people come out and watch.”