By Cathy Weaver

December 5 was a cold, blustery day at 2011 College Avenue as student volunteers, Habitat builders and new homeowners gathered to dedicate three completed new homes.

Five private high schools got together to build a "Habitat" house for a young, single mother and her three small children. Students from St. Pius X, Marist, Lovett, Westminster and Pace Academy combined efforts as each school raised $5,000 to make decent housing a reality for a low-income family.

Habitat for Humanity is a nationwide non-profit organization that builds decent and affordable homes and sells them on a no-interest, no-profit basis to low-income working families. This was the first house completely subsidized and built by a high school group.

It took almost a year to plan the project, involving "heavy commitment" and the consent of each school's headmaster, according to Karen Shanahan, Habitat project coordinator and outreach coordinator for Marist High School.

The project began with Mrs. Shanahan's desire to see Marist students sponsor their own house. Marist is the first high school to have its own Habitat chapter.

Mrs. Shanahan found it a "major undertaking" to raise the full $25,000. Other schools also wanted to sponsor a Habitat house, but were having the same fundraising problem, so Mrs. Shanahan came up with the idea of joining forces.

The money was raised in various ways, including a sock hop, selling ice cream, collecting pennies, bake sales and car washes. St. Pius, Marist, and two private schools sponsored and played in a soccer tournament as their joint service project. Working together unified the schools rather than generating competition, according to Mrs. Shanahan. Habitat raised the other $10,000 through its own fundraising activities to meet the total cost of $35,000 to build the home.

On October 10, five students from each of the high schools rolled up their sleeves to begin building. The teenagers committed to working for nine consecutive Saturdays to complete the house.

Professionals such as plumbers and electricians were hired during the week to work on the houses and the students did the "unskilled" work: framing, painting, insulating and landscaping.

As a school, this is St. Pius X's first Habitat project, according to Sister Mary Kay Finneran, campus minister in charge of outreach. The St. Pius students participate in several service projects throughout the school year as part of the formation of the teens.

The Habitat project has taught the students that it is their "Christian responsibility to be of service and to be aware of Christian brothers and sisters that are poor and ill," Sister Mary Kay said. "It (the Habitat project) is putting faith in action."

Matt Murphy, a sophomore from St. Pius X, has been involved with Habitat for Humanity for seven years, and volunteers for the organization every Saturday. He served as a supervisor in building both the exterior and interior of the house. "I like building things and seeing (the completion of) things I can create," he commented.

Each Saturday, students from each of the schools took turns preparing lunch for the morning and afternoon crews. A prayer service was also a part of the day.

Gilbert Nicolson, a paid staff member of Habitat and project director for the house, says that it is "unusual" to have teenagers work on a project. He said that although inexperienced as builders, the youths' enthusiasm made up for their lack of skill.

Deborah Sims was chosen as the homeowner out of many applicants. She went through a family selection process in which she was interviewed and had to pass screenings in order to qualify for a Habitat house. The criteria include a steady annual income between $9,000 and $16,000, a stable job history, good credit and current inadequate housing.

The future homeowners must be willing to move to a new home in a new location, put $250 down on their home, and be able to make their lease payment of $200 to $250 a month. There is a preliminary period in which they must make their payment on time in order to hold the mortgage after the first year. They also must put in 150 hours of work themselves building their house. This is "sweat equity" where labor is substituted for money paid on the house.

"My whole family has been helping build the house," Mrs. Sims said. "I've met so many people and had a lot of fun."

Ms. Sims had never heard of Habitat for Humanity until a girlfriend suggested that she apply to own a Habitat home. Within two to three months, Ms. Sims received a phone call from Habitat. "They said 'Congratulations, you're a homeowner.' I was so happy, I jumped up and down," she said, smiling.

Employed by The American Red Cross, Ms. Sims has three children, a 10-year-old girl, a three-year-old boy, and a six-month-old baby boy. The young mother said that her living conditions are currently unsafe. The family lives in a very small house that is frequently burglarized. She is looking forward to moving to a "nicer neighborhood with more room." She has her own furniture, and her children's grandmother will be living with them in their new home.

Ms. Sims' Atlanta home, including the lot, cost $35,000 to build. It is 1,230 square feet and has four bedrooms, one bath, and central heat. The house also comes with new appliances, carpeting and landscaping. The homeowner helps choose the exterior and interior colors of the house, the roof, the linoleum and the carpet.

The dedication of the homes Dec. 5 began with Christmas carols sung by the Pace Academy students.

Mrs. Shanahan led the opening prayer. "All things are possible ... God works through people to make burdens a little bit lighter," she prayer. "We must seek ways to eradicate homelessness on the face of the earth."

Other sponsoring groups were recognized. St. Jude's Young Adult group and Fannie May Mortgage Association, were responsible for the two homes built on either side of the high school-sponsored home.

During the ceremony, students from each school read reflections on the experience written by teens who had worked on the house.

"It hit me how wonderful it was that schools that were so competitive could get together and do something so special," one girl wrote. "We're helping not only to build a house, but a home," another student commented. Still another student said that working on the project gave her "a new sense of self-confidence and a new outlook. I don't judge others now like I used to," she wrote. "The only things you take to heaven are the things you give away."

At the end of the dedication ceremony, Amy Nicolson, the project director's wife, gave all the new homeowners a "charge to keep on giving."

With 2,000 hours of volunteer work invested in the three homes, Mrs. Nicolson challenged the new residents to maintain their own homes and help their neighbors. "Get involved in your homeowners association and be an example to the rest of your community," she said.

Donald Sasso, principal of St. Pius X, Dr. Carmaleta Monteith and Reverend James L. Hartnett, S.M., from Marist were present for the dedication as were faculty members from each school, friends and family of the Habitat staff, volunteers and the new homeowners.

At the close of the ceremony, Ms. Sims thanked the students. "You helped my dreams come true of one day owning a house," she said.