Students Making a Difference in the Heartland: Building Affordable Housing


Operations Specialist Reggie Robinson (right) delivered the food donated by Omaha HUD employees to Pastor Selwin Bachus of the Salem Baptist Church.

In recognition of the annual World Habitat Day celebration, the Kansas City, KS Regional HUD Office joined Heartland Habitat for Humanity and the North Kansas City School District to kick off a "Habitat Build" press conference on Tuesday, October 6, 2009. This Build is unique because it will include 25 students from the school district’s Career Education Carpentry Program. The North Kansas City School District has been building affordable single-family homes in the Northland community for about 25 years in an effort to teach students construction and design skills that will provide job opportunities after graduation. The new home that will be located at 3603 NE 82nd Terrace is the first partnership between Heartland Habitat for Humanity and the school district. Career Education Coordinator Amy St. John told the group that the school district is very excited about the partnership with Heartland Habitat because it means the students will learn housing construction skills while working with a family in need who will one day call the house their home.

[Photo 2: Wood being delivered to the Habitat Build site on World Habitat Day]
Wood being delivered to the Habitat Build site on World Habitat Day.
Twenty-six people gathered at the construction site for the event. Those present included twelve students from four high schools in the North Kansas City School District, the district’s Career Education Coordinator Amy St. John, Heartland Habitat Executive Director Tom Lally and the organization’s Board Chairman, EPA Acting Regional Administrator William Rice, members of the Gashland Presbyterian Church, and HUD’s Region VII Deputy Regional Director Eugene Lipscomb. The focus of the event was to raise awareness to the need for quality housing that is affordable, attractive and energy efficient.

As the attendees arrived, students were busy sweeping away debris and picking up trash at the site and a lumber truck arrived to deliver lumber that the students would need to begin work the following day. HUD Deputy Regional Director Gene Lipscomb kicked off the event and spoke about sustainable communities that offer equitable, affordable housing, transportation choices and economic opportunities for those who need it most. He also talked about the long-term partnership between Heartland Habitat and the Kansas City, KS HUD Office which has centered on their many shared goals. North Kansas City High School senior, Colton Sause, also spoke about the Carpentry Program and his personal experience as a second year program participant.

 
Content Archived: May 7, 2013