By tradition and design, Habitat for Humanity requires participants to invest "sweat equity" in the home they're receiving help to buy. But when professionals like the Home Builders volunteer to build a house and donate it to Habitat, it's a good idea for novices to get out of the way while a real homebuilding blitz takes place.

In just three days, the Home Builders Association of Greater Salt Lake built an energy-efficient 1200 square foot house with three bedrooms and one bath. Although the concrete slab was poured earlier to allow it to cure, hammer and nails construction began at 6 AM on Monday, June 17th - and by 6 PM on Wednesday, June 19th the home was completely finished, including cleanup and landscaping. The Home Builders' hands-on donation to Habitat for Humanity was made possible through the hard work of 250 construction professionals who volunteered their time and expertise to the blitz. This is the fifth year in a row that the Home Builders built a Habitat home in Utah.

The lucky homebuyer is Tracy Elkins, a single mother with three children. Since the concept of sweat equity is crucial to the Habitat for Humanity philosophy, Ms Elkins will spend 200 hours helping build other homes before she can move into hers. Since Habitat for Humanity Homes is currently building its first-ever full subdivision, Ms Elkins will invest her time and effort in the new Wolstenholme Home Project in Magna, Utah, where 15 other Habitat homes will be built.

HUD and many of the Department's programs strongly support this concept - for example, the new subdivision will use $530,000 in HUD's HOME program funds. The assistance, allocated to Salt Lake County, will be used to purchase land and install infrastructure. HUD's Utah Field Office Director Russell Beckley III and Operations Specialist Michele Hutchins are serving as liaisons to this unique Home Builders/Habitat project. An open house was held at the home in July.