Last Friday, the “Habi-Tech” house was transported from the Harford Technical High School to 420 Ohio Street, Havre de Grace. It is the tenth “Habi-Tech” home built by the students of the Harford Tech HS during its 20-year partnership with Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna, and the first such home to be located in Havre de Grace.It takes two years for the students at Harford Tech HS to build a “Habi-Tech” house from start to finish under the guidance of school instructors. The project teaches students across the trades programs multiple aspects of home design and construction.
“Our ‘Habi-Tech’ program connects the needs of students with the needs of low-income families,” said Yvonne Golczewski, Executive Director of Habitat Susquehanna. “Students not only get hands-on experience working on a real life project, they get to see their work benefit others in the community.”
Digging and Rigging, Inc. provided its services to lift the house and transport it (in two parts) on trailers from the school to Ohio Street, and Modular Genius donated its construction services team to install the house at the build site. Modular Genius also donated the steel frames for this home and for the next “Habi-Tech” house being constructed at the Harford Tech HS. In addition, Modular Genius donated the steel frames for the “Habi-Tech” house currently being constructed at the Cecil County School of Technology (under a similar “Habi-Tech” arrangement with Habitat Susquehanna). The crews from Digging and Rigging, Inc. and Modular Genius worked together, along with Habitat Susquehanna staff and volunteers, to set the Ohio Street house on its foundation.
The future homeowner will be Amanda Clark, a single mother of three boys (ages 6, 3 and 2).
Habitat homes are not free. Habitat Susquehanna offers homebuyers an affordable mortgage with monthly payments and these mortgage payments made by Habitat homeowners help build more affordable homes. Each applicant who partners with Habitat Susquehanna (such as Amanda) must complete 250 hours of sweat equity before move-in day, building their home or the home of another Habitat homebuyer. They also attend mandatory financial education classes to learn good money management skills. By holding fundraisers and having volunteers build these homes, Habitat Susquehanna helps keep costs low and creates an opportunity for someone who couldn’t afford a home the traditional way.
Volunteers will be needed for the next several months to work at this build site to help complete the “Habi-Tech” home. (Sign up is through the Habitat Susquehanna website at www.habitatsusq.org). For questions, contact Michele Louderback, Volunteer Coordinator, at mlouderback@habitatsusq.org.
To date, the major sponsors helping to fund this “Habi-Tech” house are: Bank of America, Battelle, BGE, Harford County Government, Maryland Affordable Housing Trust, Modular Genius, ODEC, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development – Community Legacy, and, The Morris A and Clarisse B Mechanic Foundation, Inc.
Other valued sponsors and partners for this “Habi-Tech” house are: APGFCU, Decisive Data Systems, Fulton Forward Foundation, Greater Bel Air Community Foundation, Gutter Guys, Martin Marietta, Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund, The Dresher Foundation, and, The Nora Roberts Foundation.
About Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna, Inc. is an ecumenical Christian housing organization devoted to building, renovating and repairing houses in partnership with the community in Cecil and Harford counties. Since its inception in 1993, Habitat Susquehanna has served over 700 families through its Homeownership, Repair and Financial Literacy programs. For more information, call 410-638-4434 (Harford County) or 410-398-3399 (Cecil County), or visit www.habitatsusq.org.
