Work begins on inside of Habitat house

UniTec students help with wiring

By TERESA RESSEL
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Sunday, November 2, 2008 8:06 AM CST

George Williams, a Potosi senior, and Adam Knight, a Bismarck junior, install wiring in the living room area of Paula Franks' house in Bonne Terre. UniTec Career Center students are helping with construction, which just began a month ago. - Teresa Ressel / Daily Journal

BONNE TERRE — The roof is on. The house is sided. Work is now beginning on the inside of the Habitat for Humanity house being built in Bonne Terre.

This week, Electrical Technology students from the UniTec Career Center are wiring the house under the supervision of their instructor, Bruce Pratte. Pratte said it is a good experience for his students.

The house is the 10th Habitat house in St. Francois County, but this is the first house being partnered with UniTec Career Center.

The construction students are also working on the house. They framed the outside and most of the inside walls, and put shingles on the roof.

The home on School Street in Bonne Terre is for Paula Franks and her two children. It is a three bedroom, one and a half bath house.

After the house is wired, the next step will be putting up insulation.

Franks’ church, Memorial United Methodist Church of Farmington, the Super Sponsor of this house, will have a work day Nov. 15 to hang drywall. Linda Dickerson, executive director of the local Habitat, said they are looking for skilled volunteers to help.

The next projects will be painting and flooring.

Habitat houses are not free. Habitat provides interest-free mortgages with 20-year-terms. New homeowners not only have to be able to make the mortgage payments, they have to commit to at least 400 hours of “sweat equity,” 200 hours of which they must do themselves. Friends and family can help with the remaining 200 hours.

Funds for building the homes come from donations, grants, and sponsorships. For example, Franks’ church has committed to being a Super Sponsor for her house and is raising $20,000 for the project.

Companies that donate money or in-kind services qualify for a 55 percent tax credit, and also can claim the donation on their income tax.

Dickerson said donations are greatly appreciated and they also have a goal of building a second house this year.

People who would like to help with the house are encouraged to sign up ahead of time by calling Dickerson at 573-760-1702, or e-mail her at habitatofsfc@yahoo.com

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.

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