County Outlines Program

Roy and Ferneil White of Warrenton keep close track of the area's $200,000-and-under home market.

There's a lot out there in that price range, said Ferneil, who directs the before- and after-school care program at Coleman Elementary School near Marshall. But they're really fixer uppers, and they've got some age on them.

Making them habitable would bust the couple's budget, she suggested.

But there may be hope for the Whites, who have rented a home at Bethel Academy since 1998, and others who want a place of their own.

Through the state, Fauquier will apply for federal stimulus money that allows local governments to buy and, as needed, rehabilitate foreclosed homes and sell them to low- and moderate- income families.

Fauquier has more than 300 homes in foreclosure, according to county officials.

The county held an information meeting on the Neighborhood Stabilization Program last Wednesday night in the Warren Green Building at 10 Hotel St., Warrenton.

The program will provide millions of dollars to eligible communities across Virginia to buy foreclosed homes.

A handful of people who wanted to know if they qualify for the program, including the Whites, attended the Warrenton meeting.

It sounds like it's going to be a good program, but is going to benefit people like me? Ferneil, 48, said in an interview.

Many questions about the program come to mind, she said.

Would she and her 57-year-old husband, who has been on disability since 1998, satisfy the income requirements? How many homes would the county buy from banks? When would they be available? Would the couple be able to afford any of them?

For the most part, it's too soon to answer such questions.

The Whites and others put their names on a sign-up list as being interested in the program and wanting more information about it.

It's still very much in the development phase, Deputy County Administrator Tony Hooper said during last week's information meeting.

Fauquier received a $25,000 planning grant to prepare a competitive grant application for up to $2 million to buy and renovate vacant foreclosed homes.

For the full story, read the April 22 Fauquier Times-Democrat