2008 Woodie Awards
Habitat for Humanity makes a
Ashley Bonora
Issue date: 4/27/06 Section: Features
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Habitat for Humanity is known for building simple, affordable homes in low income areas to further develop disadvantaged communities. SHU has been a large part of making this possible in areas of lower Fairfield County.
"We have the oldest campus chapter in Fairfield County. One of the best things about the campus chapter is that we work so closely with the local affiliate Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County in the Bridgeport and Stratford areas," said Phyllis Machledt, advisor to Habitat for Humanity SHU campus chapter.
"Habitat really took off on campus in 1985," said Machledt.
"It is a very community based organization. If you go to the East Side of Bridgeport, you can see easily 40-45 houses that have been built in that neighborhood in the last few years. It really makes a difference in the community because they all work together and the concept is to build a community and not just a house. We have built 109 houses so far in total," said Machledt.
Habitat has meetings every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the UC wing. They dedicate Saturday mornings and afternoons to the actual work and building time, where they go to the site and complete the tasks of the day.
"I go as often as I can, it's hard, but I try. It's only Saturdays, so it doesn't conflict with classes. It's hard for a lot of people to come in the morning, so I think it deters people," said Megan Wood, junior, Port Jefferson, N.Y.
Habitat, since October has been working on one project in particular that has really had a significant impact on the community and family they are helping.
"This year we have been working on a handicapped accessible house in Bridgeport, 463 Pembroke Road, on the East side. We have been working on this house since Halloween weekend. We are building it for Nyinka Rose whose sister has a disability. She and her sister live on a second floor apartment now and her sister is basically under house arrest. When her sister moved in with her they needed a new house that was handicap accessible. She was supposed to have another house last year but she couldn't accept it because it wasn't accessible. So they didn't accept the first house," said Wood.
"We have the oldest campus chapter in Fairfield County. One of the best things about the campus chapter is that we work so closely with the local affiliate Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County in the Bridgeport and Stratford areas," said Phyllis Machledt, advisor to Habitat for Humanity SHU campus chapter.
"Habitat really took off on campus in 1985," said Machledt.
"It is a very community based organization. If you go to the East Side of Bridgeport, you can see easily 40-45 houses that have been built in that neighborhood in the last few years. It really makes a difference in the community because they all work together and the concept is to build a community and not just a house. We have built 109 houses so far in total," said Machledt.
Habitat has meetings every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the UC wing. They dedicate Saturday mornings and afternoons to the actual work and building time, where they go to the site and complete the tasks of the day.
"I go as often as I can, it's hard, but I try. It's only Saturdays, so it doesn't conflict with classes. It's hard for a lot of people to come in the morning, so I think it deters people," said Megan Wood, junior, Port Jefferson, N.Y.
Habitat, since October has been working on one project in particular that has really had a significant impact on the community and family they are helping.
"This year we have been working on a handicapped accessible house in Bridgeport, 463 Pembroke Road, on the East side. We have been working on this house since Halloween weekend. We are building it for Nyinka Rose whose sister has a disability. She and her sister live on a second floor apartment now and her sister is basically under house arrest. When her sister moved in with her they needed a new house that was handicap accessible. She was supposed to have another house last year but she couldn't accept it because it wasn't accessible. So they didn't accept the first house," said Wood.