By Eamon Baird

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PIQUA — Habitat for Humanity of Miami and Shelby Counties and students of Upper Valley Career Center (UVCC) are partnering to work on Habitat’s newest build in Piqua. They, along with several other companies, are working to build a house for first-time owner in Piqua.

Amanda Wion, Nicole Williams, and their four children will soon be moving into a new 1,440-square-foot home, courtesy of the community collaboration.

Habitat’s partnership with Family to Build Home project guides first-time homeowners through the process of purchasing their first home, including the loan process, financial courses, sweat-equity hours, and credit counseling.

Scott Barr, executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Miami and Shelby Counties, spoke about collaborations for the project.

“This really has become a community build,” he said. “It’s all about partnerships that want to be a part of it. We are asking companies to join us and be part of that process.”

The build, which is principally sponsored by Clopay, of Troy, is also utilizing many local businesses to share in the community effort, including Ferguson Construction, 84 Lumber, HMG Construction, Denlinger and Sons Builders, Crisis Relief Mission Group, Lochard Inc., and more.

“There’s quite a lot that goes into a build here, from permitting, and inspections and changes in the weather. We’ve had beautiful weather, thankfully so we’ve done a lot very quickly,” said Maureen O’Keefe, marketing and volunteer coordinator for Habitat for Humanity.

One of the partners Habitat is working with is UVCC, which is giving students the opportunity to get on the job training. Kyle Stager, instructor of construction technologies at UVCC talked about the experience his 21 seniors are getting for the build.

“I have them here from noon to 2:44 p.m.,” Stager said. “Depending on our schedule and the time frame of the building of the house we come in and fit in when we can. So obviously, they were framing today, all the frames for the windows and so forth are called rough openings and we did all those at the school.”

Ferguson Construction laid out the foundation of the project and contacted UVCC about when they could begin work.

“So, Ferguson called us and said, ‘Hey, we’re what days can you make it?’ I told them what day we could, and we came out and helped him lay block separate block and laid the foundation with them,’” Stager said.

Stager said projects like this help give his students practical work experience.

“We have an apprentice program. So that means we have students that go on for two weeks, come in for two weeks, and then go off and work for two weeks which is neat. The guys here are a part of the apprenticeship program,” he said.

Barr said there is a misconception that people think Habitat for Humanity merely gives away houses but rather assist and give first time homeowners the tools and resources before they move into their new home. Families who qualify for this program will take on a 0% interest mortgage in addition to 400 sweat equity hours of volunteer service.

“Once people realize that that kind of changes the registration pool a little bit. What we’re trying to do is give upfront education to let people know that they’re going to be a homeowner, they’re going to they’re going to own the property right here in Miami County,” Barr said.

“We selected Bart Denlinger from Denlinger Home Builders is our volunteer construction supervisor,” Barr said. “Every company has a stake in the bill. Some of them providing maybe labor at cost, some of them have secured or gotten discounted products, but they all have a stake in wanting this to be built.”

Habitat is also partnered Keith Berger and Crisis Relief Ministry of Ludlow Falls, to work on the framing of the house.

Wion, who was also onsite assisting with the build, talked about why she sought Habitat’s resources as to purchase her first home.

“We were under hardships. Our landlord kept raising our rent every month to where it got to where it had doubled in three years, and we knew he was going to raise it again and that we weren’t going to be able to afford the next rent increase. So, we started looking around and I remember seeing habitat on commercials back in the day and I did not realize they were still around building houses,” she said.

Wion added at first their application was denied because of employment transitions but she later realized her family was selected for the house. On Thursday, April 25, Wion and Williams signed a partnership agreement marking the start of their homeownership process.

Part of the agreement includes the requirement to complete the 400 sweat hours, which involves helping to build their own home, working in the Habitat Activity Center or ReStore, and taking financial courses and credit counseling.

Wion said this process has helped her become more prepared for when she moves into her new home.

Barr said anyone interested in taking part in the process can apply until Oct. 31 through the Habitat for Humanity website at www.hfhmco.org/home-ownership.

“We anticipate trying to qualify three or four families during that application process for future builds,” he said. “Once it’s closed, we will work with those families through the build process and then when appropriate, we’ll open it back up again when we’re ready to build the next phase for homes.”

In addition to the homeownership program Habitat for Humanity also works home repairs program.

“The goal was 15 to 20 for the year, starting with nothing. We’re at 15 already in September, so the home repairs program really took off,” O’Keefe said.

While there is no exact time frame for the completion of the house Barr said he anticipates the project to move relatively quickly.

When the home is completed there will be a dedication ceremony to thank all who worked on the project. Then Wion and her family will move into their new home.

“We’re so grateful! We are excited and we appreciate everybody that’s helped through the whole process. I’ve gained such a sense of community,” she said.

For more information on Habitat for Humanity visit their website www.hfhmco.org or call 937-332-3763.