Habitat for Humanity plans build in local neighborhood

The University of Richmond and the Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity will begin a nine-week build of an affordable and Earthcraft-friendly home in Northside Richmond's Highland Park neighborhood on Feb. 24.

Richmond's Bonner Center for Civic Engagement and Habitat for Humanity chapter officials are seeking volunteers to participate in the build on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Fifteen volunteers can participate per day.

Richmond is the first group of volunteers to use the new online registration system, available on RMHFH's Web site, said Chris Hollomon, RMHFH public relations spokesman.

Registration is open to students, starting at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 15 and 16. Registration for faculty, staff and the community will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 17. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up for days when they have several hours available, or when they do not have work or class.

In 2008, Richmond organized a similar build in Highland Park, but this year is different because HFH is more involved in the project's recruitment, promotion, funds and education, said Cassie Price, community initiatives and program coordinator in the CCE.

"Highland Park was identified with the highest number of foreclosures in the area," Price said. "This is a great way to raise awareness around issues of affordable housing and to sustain community relationships."

The project will also be environmentally friendly. It will be a green building, installed with Earthcraft-certified appliances, windows, toilets, piping and heating, Hollomon said.

Senior Emily Bender, vice president of Richmond's HFH chapter, is the overseer of the project. Bender, who plans to contribute to the build, said that HFH would focus on advertising and educating students about the project to encourage involvement.

"Once I learned the significance of the problem, I became more interested," Bender said.

The CCE and Richmond's HFH chapter are hosting four educational events to complement the build.

There will be a program on green building practices at 7 p.m. on Feb. 17 in the Tyler Haynes Commons and a CCE Brown Bag informational meeting about the mortgage crisis at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 19 in the Brown-Alley Room. A documentary on affordable housing will be shown at 7 p.m. on Feb. 21 in Jepson Hall and between Feb. 21 and 24 there will be a poster blitz on affordable housing.

RMHFH has selected a family for the home, which is located at 621 E. Brookland Park Blvd.

It is a misconception that the family is simply given the home, Price said.

"The family will contribute a certain number of hours of their own blood, sweat and tears," she said.

Students who participate in the build will have the opportunity to meet the family on the site.

"We're looking forward to partnering with UR again," Hollomon said. "UR has been a phenomenal partner in the past and the students are great."

Contact reporter Dryden Witman at dryden.witman@richmond.edu