Habitat for Humanity and the Fayette County Vocational-Technical School in Uniontown have developed a community revitalization and education program. Through the program, prospective construction workers receive training; in return, they volunteer time to Habitat for Humanity. Dan Visanaukas said the trade-off stemmed from a shortage of volunteers. "I was having trouble finding volunteers to build houses," said Visanaukas, chairman of the board of the Fayette County chapter of Habitat for Humanity. "Many of the volunteers that we did have had no formal training in construction, so we were training them as we went along. "I helped put together a business plan that was based on a natural partnership between education and the community." In September 2007, Visnaukas presented the plan to Gov. Ed Rendell, resulting in a $280,000 grant package. This program will focus on several points of community renewal: &#149 Building a workforce to fill openings in the construction field. &#149 Building new homes, which will bring in more tax revenue for individual communities. &#149 Revitalizing blighted neighborhoods, which will promote residency and more tax revenue. &#149 Promoting pride of ownership, as more people become homeowners. Jackie Shrum, an instructor for the program, said students will have 90 hours of classroom instruction. Eight modules of study will focus on topics such as proper use of tools and occupational health and safety requirements. After the students finish their classroom training, they will complete 240 hours of on-site experience. They also will be required to volunteer 30 hours with Habitat for Humanity. Students will be accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research, which will enable them to compete for construction jobs. They also will be OSHA certified. "We even give students a free set of tools at the end of their training," Shrum said. Edward Jeffries, executive director of the Fayette Area Vocational-Technical School, said the partnership reflects the school's commitment to community involvement. "I responded to a request from Habitat for Humanity to help provide trained construction workers," he said. "I also realized that in the workforce these positions are going unfilled because kids are opting for the high-tech careers." Jeffries wants his students to experience success. "Many people have drawn the wrong card. This program will give them marketable skills and a chance to have good jobs," he said. "It will give them a feeling of success. It can be a life-changing experience for them." Shrum stressed that Habitat is not a giveaway program. "Each house costs approximately $50,000 to build," she said. "This money is financed through no-interest loans. Each owner pays a monthly mortgage until the house is paid for in full." Habitat homes generally average 1,000 square feet in area and are one-story structures. "This program is a pilot program," Shrum said. "No other chapter of Habitat for Humanity has a program like this. It gives people a chance to learn marketable skills. If people decide they like construction work, they can go on to specialize in different areas." Classes are flexible, and Shrum pointed out that even people who do not plan to go into construction can benefit. "I encourage homeowners to take the course, so they have the skills they need to maintain their homes," she said. Additional Information:

Details

For more information, call the Habitat for Humanity office at 724-437-4150.

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