Students Join Habitat for Humanity to Help Homeowners

Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team is partnering with Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley to create a training facility for new Habitat for Humanity home owners and to offer a mobile display to take on the road for simple repairs. 

Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley builds volunteerism in support of providing a stake in building a home with needy families in the community, using local resources to complete the build and provide “homes, a community, and hope.” 

SIFE was awarded a $2,000 grant from Lowe’s for this effort, which will strengthen the home aspect by teaching self-reliance for both economic and the simplest physical maintenance activities around the home.

The two primary goals of this project are:

• Helping the community partner’s target population to succeed in home ownership
• Building a resource for teaching participants effective home management through self-reliance and the use of appropriate tools and resources.

To accomplish these goals, the project team will develop a Training Lab (stored at LCCC) and a program, including hard copy resource materials as well as social network and web site resources, and make this training available to participants in the community partner's program.

SIFE has an opportunity to apply for another $5,000 grant through Lowe’s after the first grant phase is completed andmembers are learning skills from LCCC students in the Construction Management program, led by Professor Jim DePietro. They are also assisting in preparing the training facility and selling SIFE Habitat for Humanity wristbands in LCCC’s Bookstore to support this cause. A percentage of the sales will go toward a welcome basket full of home essentials for the new home owners.