On June 2, Habitat for Humanity of Allegheny Valley raised walls for its first house for 2007. The house is located at 2020 Constitution Blvd. in Arnold, PA.In 2007 the local affiliate has a goal of increasing its building capacity by building four houses. Walls will be raised in on Bailies Run Road in East Deer for the second house in two weeks. The third house is a rehab on Walnut Street in New Kensington. The fourth house will be in Natrona, but does not have a homeowner yet.
Lou Shirella, an architectural intern who did the drawings for the house, was involved in the actual construction as well.
There was a brief ceremony before we started lifting the walls into place.
The volunteers arranged themselves along the first wall ...
... and started lifting it ...
... and then it was secured in place.
In a few minutes the second wall was ready to be raised.
Up it went!
And then it, too, was secured.
The Serjeant family are to be the homeowners. President of the Board for Habitat for Humanity of Allegheny Valley, the Rev. Dr. James Legge rejoices with Dale, Abby, and Erik at the beginning of this project.
The Serjeant family had been homeless, and received initial assistance only eighteen months ago through the Interfaith Hospitality Network of the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches. Executive Director of the Association of Churches, Karen Snair stands with the Serjeant family beside the second wall of their new home.
Although the affiliate has not yet identified a homeowner for the fourth house this year, all of the known 2007 homeowner families were present for the wall-raising. Charisse and her brother Kelvin are part of the family that will own the Walnut Street house that is a rehab project. Sona Flowers will be the homeowner for the house to be built in East Deer.
