Columbia-Greene Habitat for Humanity launched its Rural Starter Home Initiative on the grounds of the NY State Capitol on May 21.
Hundreds of volunteers, sponsors, legislators and staff from Habitat affiliates across the state together came to erect the frame of a new house; one specifically designed to provide efficient, safe and affordable housing for the average wage and lower income residents who are the foundation of many of our rural communities.
In recent years, and in increasing numbers, they have been shut out of the housing market. There are simply too few homes to rent or buy that meet the criteria of truly affordable: 30% or less of gross income.
https://www.news10.com/news/albany-county/habitat-for-humanity-starts-new-home-construction/
Following a full day of hammering the pre-cut lumber into panels, the fully framed house was disassembled and placed in a box truck, where it was to be delivered to our build site. This “panelization” is a feature. Our base home is designed to eventually be pre-built and transported to where it will be erected.
Two days later, the house came home. It took our crew and a few volunteers less than a half-hour to unload the truck that transported it.
We believe that we can build these houses at scale, for ourselves, other Habitat affiliates, and organizations that work in affordable housing. Eventually we will build them on site, off site, and in pre-cut packages.
Let’s change the game and build more walls…for all those who need them.
Let’s build!