Dakota Construction Class Showcases Home Built for Habitat Macomb

A low-income Macomb County family will soon have a new home courtesy of the talent and skill of students.

The 1,250-square-foot home, sponsored by Habitat for Humanity of Macomb, was unveiled for the public on June 2 in the Dakota Construction Trades building, where built it from the ground up during the 2010-11 school year.

Churches is in his 12th year teaching at Dakota and this home is the fifth he has guided his students through building for Macomb Habitat.

"(Dakota construction trades) is a great program," said Terri Benson of Macomb Habitat events management. "Not only are these kids learning a trade, they are giving back to the community at the same time. They are helping a family that is working hard to become part of our community."

The home, which will soon be moved to a permanent location in Macomb County, will be sold to a low-income family with a no-interest loan.

"These homes are for people caught in between income levels," Benson said. "They are not at the bottom, but they don't qualify for other programs. They are hard-working people who will pay the same taxes as everyone else (in the community where the home is placed)."

Macomb Habitat covered the cost of construction and Dakota students built the house from the frame to the final coat of paint.

"Every year (this class) is a little different," Churches said. "The students all react differently to the work. This year, all in all, they reacted in a positive manner. They understand the importance of a program like that."

However, the three-bedroom, one-bath home was only one of the student projects on display at the June 2 open house. Students also showcased their craftsmanship on such projects as sheds, wood canoes, doghouses, toolboxes and a scaffolding cart.

Although Dakota students Brandon Barwick and Stephen Roddis worked on other projects during the year, both agreed building the house was their favorite endeavor and said they plan to continue working in construction before and after their service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Barwick intends to enter the Marines and Roddis, the Army.

"When you have a program like (construction trades)," Benson said. "You see a trickle-down effect. The kids learn to build a home, the home goes to a good family, local contractors finish the home on-site and it starts to affect the community. It's a domino effect."

The home's future owners will be a partner family of Macomb Habitat, meaning they have had ties to Macomb County for at least six months and every adult in the family has contributed 250 hours of "sweat equity" with Habitat. 

"At this point in time we have more houses (ready to be sold) than families in the program," Benson said. "We encourage people to sign up. A lot of people don't believe they'll qualify, but they probably will."

To contact Macomb Habitat for an application, email family@macombhabitat.org or download one from the website.