Habitat plans blitz to build 7 area homes

2/23/2006

The Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity today will announce its plan to build seven houses in seven days as part of a national drive: the 2006 Home Builder's Blitz by Habitat for Humanity, planned for the first week of June.

The builder's blitz will partner Habitat for Humanity and its affiliates in communities across the country with professional home builders to construct more than 500 houses in one week.

The goal of the nationwide project is to have 1,000 builders erect more than 500 houses, said Chuck Thayer, director of the Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity.

He said the Maumee Valley affiliate will partner with 15 home builders in the Toledo area to construct the seven houses on a site off Angola Road in Spencer Township.

"We have been working on this campaign since last summer," said Mr. Thayer, noting that the Toledo-area project is estimated to cost about $700,000.

Mr. Thayer said most of the building costs will be incurred by the home builders that have volunteered their services and materials. Other costs, like the land purchase and infrastructure costs, will be shared between the building companies and the Maumee Valley Habitat affiliate.

"We are very pleased with how the financial community in the Toledo area has responded to this campaign," said Mr. Thayer, noting that the Maumee Valley Habitat affiliate has raised more than $80,000 to supplement the home builders' costs.

Sam Irmen, a board member of the Maumee Valley Habitat affiliate, said 14 area professional building companies will pair up, and each will construct one house from start to finish in seven days. Another company, he said, will help in securing materials for the construction.

"This will be a spectacular project," Mr. Thayer said. "We're feeling great about it, and it will give seven people a chance to own a home."