Residents describe sewage and collapsing homes as Accomack board backs Hornetown CDBG demolition application

The Accomack County Board of Supervisors voted to proceed with a Community Development Block Grant application seeking $1,250,000 from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and a county contribution of $150,000 to support demolition and replacement work in Hornetown.

Caitlin, a staff member with the planning district commission, told the board the project scope covers 10 properties: four abandoned structures and six homes with severe health risks. "In one of the systems, there is some sewage that was going into the drinking water, so this really is a severe health hazard that needs to be addressed," she said.

Local residents described prolonged delays and dangerous conditions. Katina Foscue said her family had to stop drinking tap water after sewage entered their house and that the roof had caved in. "My house was one of the houses that... the sewage was going into our water with my kids," she said. Stacy Lee said moisture and structural failure under her mobile home have worsened over the last two-and-a-half years.

Supervisors asked staff about previous denials and application weaknesses; staff said prior denials were related to missing experienced project personnel and that those gaps have been corrected. The board voted to move forward with the application and scheduled a second public hearing in Hornetown on June 30 as part of the project timeline.

The motion to advance the application passed by voice vote. Staff said, if approved by the state, the project would proceed to demolition and—where planned—rebuilding of up to six homes on the cleared footprints and grading of the remaining lots.