Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

f ' s. (JdCst By Mark Platte Gamacock Staff Writer The sign on the lawn of 3425 Main St. read "condemned." The house was being painted, the landscaping was being cleaned and about 20 USC students were eagerly searching for more work to be done on what is known as the Providence Home, a house for uumeiess women. Sister Cathy Riley, a Providence Home volunteer from the diocese of Charleston, said the city of Columbia was going to evict the women this past December. "THE HOUSING inspectors told us they didn't care where we went as long as we moved out within seven hours," Sister Riley said. "We called evervone we knew in power to get them to let us stay." The house was condemned because of faulty electrical wiring, which the women cannot afford to fix because of limited income. The Providence Home is maintained from donations from churches, individuals and groups, according to Riley. "Our water bill is about $175, our light bill is $525 and we haven't even started to pay for them yet," she added. Students in the USC College of General Studies eased some of this burden by painting the house as well as repairing the screens and raking the grounds. The project is part of the National College PitchIn and Clean-Up Week, sponsored by Budweiser of America. Charles Osborne, USC sociology professor, said the College of General Studies has entered the contest for the past three years. USC has placed second in the South during the past two years, he said. The competition has included about 500 colleges and universities, according to Osborne. "THIS YEAH we hope to finish first, "Osborne said. "Last year iii ni Kf'ti-vJM oooo u.!_ l o. mam 01. i WSBIIBmBmm 799-: j THE VIDEO TRl PRE' "THE Nf LflmPOO APRIL 1 9:00 a.m. 12nd Floor Lol Russell Hous L_ 4In ooo udents cle we won $500 for the College of General Studies and this year, we're in a good position to win ti ?? y A jVUV . The Providence Home was selected from 40 buildings in the ' Columbia area, and Osborne said he felt the selection needed the most attention, especially because of its proximity to Main Street. "It's an ecological blemish on the face of Columbia which we have rectified," Osborne said. "We couldn't have done it without the help of Budweiser of Columbia and I various businesses such as Sears & Roebuck, who supplied us with $500 ! worth of paint." Bill Graves, vice president of j Budweiser of Columbia, said that it would have cost about $1,500 for a professional painter. "This is the I biggest undertaking we've ever done," hea dded. RILEY SAID SHE was amazed at the concentration of the students. "I haven't seen any fooling or horseplay," she said, "They knew what they were all aoout, and tney knew what they had to do. They're also concerned with the people in the house, not just the painting." Riley said the women are excited about the renovations. "To live in a condemned house is derogatory," she said. "What you live in is something that reflects you; this painting of the house makes them as excited as the kids." Providence Home residents include state hospital patients, rvricnn inmof **** pi iouii minuivo, i una way s iinu women who need a temporary home. "Our main project is the | follow-up with the women. We have ! to make the initial contacts for them," she said. Sometimes we just counsel them." "THIS IS REALLY just an 1 emergency shelter for the ko'sSSg jehind the Capitoi 3807 HIHHH 1 i PE COmmiTTEE >ENTS IIIUNHL >N SHOW" 8 - 20 - 5:00 p.m. !* fflil I' I' Ig russel house 3 d nosiHon tn unr ?- wamvaa W JLM i '.an up C( women," Riley said. "Most them go job hunting and if th have the ability to pay, they w We keep them here to keep th< self-respect for two weeks longer, depending on the dividual," she added. nBiEILtDIBS \ i \ 256-0011\ 256-0011 > $1,000' Dlumbic of ' USC student Linda Fr? iey "I feel good doing som< ill. someone. You think thai eir work, but everyone enj or it," she said. "Coming in- the last two years also us to do better." 1H| giPHI fit =ive Pi DUB 8S79s/& / unchill*! \ i 'blemii ncis said, Osborne said th 'thing for form of sociology ii it's hard his socioloev stude . ... . ..... >ys doing see "active sociolo in second "This project notivated voluntary by t Osborne said. * lints I ase . / ^/601 Ha ih' le project is a n action and that ;nts were able to gy" was totally he students," irf?M lOHSIlr \ rden