The Miami University Chapter of Habitat for Humanity will begin its new home building project in the fall in College Corner.
Senior Brian Wellman, current president of the Miami chapter, called the project "a big undertaking."
"The project is a way for us to give back to the community of Oxford, and bring out the best in our students," Wellman said.
This is the first project the chapter has worked on this close to Oxford, Wellman said. College Corner is approximately 5 miles northwest of Oxford.
Junior Aaron Loochtan, weekend trip coordinator and president-elect of the Miami chapter, said that he is excited to begin working in College Corner.
"We have lost touch with Oxford, and this project will allow us to reconnect," Loochtan said. "I am excited about having the opportunity to build every weekend. It's about time we get a chance to really get our clothes dirty and give back to the community."
According to Wellman, the project will cost nearly $40,000, and the group has raised most of the money during the last three and a half years.
"(The funding) has come through the pockets of generous Miami students and organizations," Wellman said.
According to Wellman, the Miami chapter still needs to raise an additional $10,000 to reach the $50,000 needed to fully finance the project. He said it will likely take until the spring of 2009 to raise the rest of the funds.
The chapter members will begin the final phase of fundraising in fall 2008, holding fundraisers similar to those of past years, including Shantytown, in which students camp out for the weekend in cardboard boxes and collect donations. In addition, Wellman said there will be 5k run/walks and date auctions.
Jim Lipnickey, president of the Oxford chapter of Habitat for Humanity, said the Miami chapter will not have to finance the land the house will be built upon since it was donated by the Oxford Chapter. According to Lipnickey, the Oxford chapter sponsors the Miami chapter.
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While the Miami chapter will build the house, the Oxford chapter will provide skilled site supervisors to help oversee the project.
Lipnickey complimented the Miami Habitat for Humanity chapter for its fundraising efforts.
"The Miami chapter has done just a fantastic job raising the financing needed for the structure," Lipnickey said.
The next step, though, will be get started on the work.
"The students and the partner family will do the bulk of the labor on the house on Saturdays," Lipnickey said.
While the partner family that will receive the home has not been decided upon yet, the chosen family will be required to help the Miami chapter build the home. The family is required to put in 500 hours of "sweat equity," according to Lipnickey.
Sweat equity is the term used by Habitat for Humanity to represent the labor that the partner family puts into building their own home. The family must contribute 275 hours of physical labor themselves but can involve family and friends in the remaining 225.
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