Shaw volunteers build houses for families

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Gordinier
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  More than 330 volunteers from Shaw helped build six new houses this year in the Habitat Drive subdivision in downtown Sumter and will see their efforts come to an end Jan. 15 when the last four families move in.

The subdivision will eventually have 54 houses, said Bob Brown, local Habitat for Humanity construction manager.

Currently the homes are being completed by contractors who are doing the finishing touches, Mr. Brown said. According to Shaw's Habitat program manager, inspectors said the quality of the work is outstanding.

"Inspectors, who look at the finished houses to make sure everything is within federal and safety regulations, say the quality of the houses are just as good, if not better than what they see from contractors," said Master Sgt. Marty Curtis, 9th Air Force weapons safety superintendent and Shaw's Habitat for Humanity program manager. "This is an accomplishment considering all construction was done by volunteers who know nothing or little about construction. The only guidance they had was advice and expertise from the construction manager."

About 300 volunteers from the local community also helped, Mr. Brown said, but without the Shaw volunteers, the local Habitat for Humanity wouldn't be half as far as they are now.

For example, Master Sgt. Chris Krohn, who recently moved from Shaw, put in more than 1,800 hours of volunteer work, Mr. Brown said. Sergeant Krohn loved lending a hand and helping those in need. He spent every Saturday until the day he moved helping out.

"Most of the time, volunteers get to meet the family they are helping," Sergeant Curtis said. "The volunteers get a feeling of satisfaction when they see how happy the families are when they move into their new home. It really touches your heart when you see what a difference you are making for these families."

A Shaw volunteer agreed.

"When I started volunteering for the Habitat for Humanity, I was hoping to learn more about home repair," said Senior Airman Jeremy DuBose, 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron refueling maintainer. "After a while, I felt a sense of satisfaction because I am helping the community and I am bettering people's lives."

Some think that Habitat for Humanity gives these houses to the families for free, Mr. Brown said. That is not true.

"We make owning a home possible for people who are living in poverty or inadequate housing," Mr. Brown said.

Each three-bedroom, 1,050-square-foot house costs about $60,000 to build, Mr. Brown said. They are worth at least $80,000 if not more, but they are sold to the owners for the cost of building materials only.

If a family is chosen for a Habitat house, they are given the opportunity to purchase the house at cost with zero percent interest for 20 years, Mr. Brown said. Their mortgage payments go into the Habitat for Humanity fund so more homes can be built for other families.

The Habitat for Humanity also gathers funds from local businesses, churches, federal grants and personal donations for materials to build Habitat houses, Mr. Brown said.