Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Local nonprofit AHIP (Albemarle Housing Improvement Program) has received a $10,000 grant from the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors (CAAR) to fund critical home repairs for residents in need. Quinton Beckham, principal broker at KW Alliance and former CAAR president, highlighted the vital role AHIP plays in preserving housing affordability and supporting vulnerable homeowners. 

“It truly is a place where so many different portions of the community get to come together to help our neighbors,” Beckham said, emphasizing the collaborative effort between realtors, volunteer contractors, and donors. The grant will assist families with repairs that range from fixing plumbing issues to replacing inefficient heating systems. 

AHIP’s origins trace back to Hurricane Camille’s devastation in 1969, when a group of students, calling themselves scrub, began assisting homeowners with repairs not covered by government funding. The organization evolved into today’s AHIP, continuing its mission of helping families remain in their homes. 

“We talk all the time about housing affordability,” Beckham shared. “One of the best ways to really preserve housing affordability is to not let people that are living in homes that are paid off, lose them.” AHIP supports seniors, disabled individuals, and low-income families by providing essential repairs and upgrades, enabling them to age in place or maintain generational homes. 

Residents interested in supporting AHIP or volunteering can visit ahipva.org, and listen here for the full conversation: