Billups Homes ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
year. As a result, I was unable to take on larger projects and build my reputation, pushing me to focus on smaller projects like remodels and renovations. Eventually, I received a referral to a group that builds homes in the city and began working on properties that were in a terrible condition. For context, there is a major drug problem in the US, particularly in the communities I serve, where many areas have become nearly abandoned. Most of the residents left in those neighborhoods were either struggling with addiction or could not afford to move.
“ Many of these homes were occupied but deemed condemned because they had been lived in by drug addicts for ten-to-20 years, and anything of value, such as copper pipes and air conditioners, had been stripped away. Through our remodeling and whole-house renovation division, our mission became to rehabilitate these homes and, in turn, restore the entire community, which has been incredibly rewarding. The community I am working in has an incredible history; Martin Luther King Jr.’ s family lived in this neighborhood, making it a prestigious area for people of color for a long time. Being able to rebuild and restore this community has truly been an honor,” he expresses.
Building high-quality homes within poor and underserved communities form the core of Billups’ operations and ethos. Similarly, the company is dedicated to creating affordable housing for key workers. Thomas concludes with details on another worthwhile project.“ In DeKalb County, Atlanta, there is a land bank of properties that have been foreclosed due to unpaid taxes or neglect, which can lead to safety issues. To prevent injuries, the county reclaims these homes. We recently started working with the DeKalb County Land Bank on three parcels of land where we will build homes. The houses we construct under this program will mostly serve as workforce housing for school teachers, nurses, and firemen, who are pillars in the community but often struggle to afford a home in today’ s market,” he ends. ■
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