Purdue's Greek students
build home
By Heather Mangold
City Editor
A house that was built through funds raised by
Purdue's Greek students will be dedicated on April 1 in partnership
with Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette.
Jeff Getts, public relations director for Purdue's
Greek system, said that individual fraternities and sororities raised
$40,000 last year to build a house for Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette.
Funds raised from each were combined in a single effort to build one
home. Sigma Chi raised the most money, totaling more than $15,000.
Doug Taylor, executive director of Habitat for
Humanity of Lafayette, said finding volunteers from Purdue is not a
problem.
"We have so many Purdue student groups that want
to work for us that we have to turn some of them down," said Taylor.
Purdue's Greek students are not the only ones contributing
to the organization.
The Purdue chapter of Habitat for Humanity sends
out weekly volunteers to help with construction of homes in Lafayette,
said Elizabeth Pomery, member of Purdue's Habitat chapter.
"No construction experience is needed," said Pomery.
"People at the construction site will tell you what to do."
Pomery said that to get involved with Habitat for
Humanity, those interested should visit the Purdue chapter Web page
at expert.cc.purdue.edu/~habitat.
Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette was formed in
1984 and has worked with over 80 families since.
"It's kind of a unique thing," said Taylor. "We're
the only builders of low income housing ownership programs."
Houses built by Habitat for Humanity are sold at
no profit to partner families. Zero interest mortgages are issued over
a fixed period of time. Each homeowner family is required to invest
"sweat equity" hours into the construction of their home.
The new owner of the home that Purdue's Greet students
funded is a single mother of one. She petitioned Habitat for Humanity
and went through a lengthy application process to acquire the home.
Within the process, she agreed to participate in 250 hours of "sweat
equity" to help build the house.
"I know that she's happy and she's a good worker,"
said Taylor.
According to a Habitat for Humanity promotional
video, women head two-thirds of all families living in poverty.
In addition to building homes for individual families
throughout the community, Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette plans to
build 30 houses in a local sub-division this fall.
Habitat for Humanity will work with a building
company based in Ft. Wayne to build 98 homes in a sub-division located
near Poland Hill Road, south of Copper Gate Apartments. The organization
will build homes in the subdivision primarily for first time homeowners.
Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette was granted $250,000
from Lafayette's Community Development Block Grant program. The program
allocates money to the city and the city further allocates the money
to organizations in need. In addition to the money from the Community
Development Block Grant program, Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette received
$220,000 from an endowment provided by Eli Lilly. Habitat for Humanity
is run by donations such as these.
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