The Dowell Family 

On Wednesday, May 22^nd, the Family Selection Approval Team of CHfH approved Joseph and Virginia Dowell as a “Partner Family” for 2002.  Joseph, Virginia and their three sons will be building a home at 290 Mohawk Street in the Over the Rhine Neighborhood of Cincinnati.  Their home is to be sponsored by the Ruth & Robert Conway Foundation and will be known as The Conway Foundation CHfH House as Mohawk Mews Phase One.

 Joseph, Virginia and their three sons, Jamont (age15), Cedrik (age13) and Joseph III (age 12) currently live in a two-bedroom apartment in the Over the Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati.  All three boys share one bedroom and the apartment is in need of many repairs.  Their third floor apartment has no window screens and one window does not close.  Only half of the floor in the kitchen is tiled, the landlord still has not finished the other half in over one-year.  The bathroom sink must be propped up on boards.  The family says the landlord is very unresponsive to even minor repair calls.  The family is in urgent need of a home that provides enough space for this growing family and a minimum standard of decent housing.

 Joseph has worked at the WM Powell company since 1991 and Virginia has been unable to work due to ailing health problem with her lungs that is compounded daily by her three flight journey up and down the stairs from her apartment.

 Joseph and Virginia will buy a single family, two-story, three- bedroom home from CHfH.  The house will be located at 290 Mohawk Street in the Over the Rhine Neighborhood of Cincinnati. Joseph and Virginia have committed to investing 500 hours of sweat equity labor during the five-month construction of their home.  When completed, they will buy their home for approximately $59,000 with a 0% interest free loan payable to CHfH over 20 years, at a cost of about $350.00 per month (including closing costs, taxes and insurance).

After their home is completed and purchased, Joseph and Virginia can serve as an example to their children of what can be accomplished when one works hard, sets goals and maintains their hope for a better future.

 For more information about the Joseph and Virginia Dowell Partner Family, please contact Helen Spieler at CHfH, 513- 621-4147, ext. 230.