Karen Jacobson, Executive Director

1404 N Randolph Avenue
Elkins, WV 26241-9667

Incorporated: 2005

HISTORY

Highland Community Builders (HCB) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Randolph County Housing Authority, a nontraditional public housing agency that has been around for 25 years. HCB’s mission is providing affordable housing to support Randolph County Housing Authority’s work while encouraging individual self sufficiency and promoting sustainable communities.

The Housing Authority was incorporated in 1979. Its mission is building strong families and communities. It develops and manages affordable rental housing, promotes and creates affordable home ownership opportunities; cultivates leadership and job skills in youth, and participates in other community development efforts.

Both organizations must overcome serious obstacles to development: geography, and infrastructure. There are limited development opportunities due to the lack of buildable land outside the flood plain and the vast acreage held by federal and state agencies and private timber companies. Even when land is buildable it often lacks infrastructure like water and sewer. Adding these costs to housing costs makes it difficult to keep housing affordable for low-income families.