Habitat for Humanity breaks ground for Penn College build

Pennsylvania College of Technology joined Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity on Sept. 19 to break ground at 508 Fifth Ave., where, over the next two years, Penn College students will build a Habitat home on land donated to the organization by the college.

“This is such a win-win project,” said Bob Robinson, executive director of Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity. “Penn College students starting this fall will have the opportunity to build a home from start to finish – what a great resume builder! And, when completed, we will have another Habitat home providing the opportunity for a low-income family to own their very own home for the first time. We look forward to the success of this project and hope we can build more homes together in the future.”

Penn College building construction technology students began work at the site on Tuesday, completing the site layout. Next, students in heavy construction equipment technology majors will dig the foundation. Geoffrey M. Campbell, a recently retired assistant professor of architecture, involved students in a Fall 2022 architectural design class by tasking them to design energy-efficient homes for the site.

By the time it is completed in May 2026, the project will involve students from at least six Penn College programs.

Helping to lead the project are Andrew Hamelly, construction director for Habitat and a 2007 Penn College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in residential construction technology & management, plus two related associate degrees, and Garret L. Graff, assistant professor of building construction technology, who will coordinate on-site activity as construction supervisor on behalf of the college.

“We are so excited to begin this project!” said Ellyn A. Lester, assistant dean of construction and architectural technologies and the college’s project manager for the build. “We’ve been working with Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity for more than two years to find a path forward that fulfilled both groups’ goals and programmatic requirements. There have been challenges along the way, but our faculty, administration, and Penn College’s Board of Directors joined forces with Habitat’s board, and our county and city officials, to make this project a reality!”

The solar-ready home is designed to be sustainably affordable for its future owners.

The property where it will be built is an empty lot that had been the site of a “nuisance bar,” as designated by the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office. It was purchased by the college in 2015 and leveled. The college’s Board of Directors approved donation of the property to Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity in October 2023.

In addition, the Lycoming County Commissioners approved a grant for $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding for various construction materials, and the City of Williamsport is allowing use of an adjacent city-owned property for equipment and materials storage.

Habitat, too, is providing services and materials, as well as selecting a family and preparing them for homeownership. Homeowners are chosen from applicant families earning less than 80% of the area median income. In addition to a mortgage not greater than 30% of their annual income, local Habitat owners pay an average of $3,283 in real estate taxes each year.

“Ultimately, this project puts a city property back on the tax rolls, enables students to tap their newly acquired skills for a ‘real-world’ project, and provides a new home for a worthy family that meets Habitat’s eligibility criteria,” Penn College President Michael J. Reed said.

The Fifth Avenue home is among 11 the local Habitat for Humanity International affiliate plans to complete by December 2027, adding to the 40 constructed in Lycoming County since 1990.

Katherine L. (Mertes) Rainey, a 2018 residential construction technology & management and building construction technology graduate who joined the Penn College faculty as a part-time instructor this fall, lived in one of those homes.

“I grew up in a Habitat house,” said Rainey, a customer coordinator for Berks Homes. The home, dedicated in 2003, was built by Lycoming College students. “I was young at the time, but I have some fond memories of visiting the job site.”

She recalls watching progress as she went to the site with her mother, who made and delivered lunch for the student volunteers. (Her father pitched in, as well, as part of the construction crew.)

Since earning her Penn College degrees, she has renewed her involvement with the organization as a volunteer, helping with a recent “women’s build” at a home on Scott Street and speaking at Habitat for Humanity events.

“I’ve just really wanted to give back to them for everything that they had given to me and my family back 20-plus years ago now,” Rainey said. “If it weren’t for Habitat, I don’t know if my parents would have owned their own home. Seeing the construction from a different angle – all these people coming together to build my home – I just want to give back and help build homes for other families in need.”

Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity builds safe and affordable homes in partnership with families in need of a decent place to live. Habitat homebuyers help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. To learn more, visit www.lycominghabitat.org.

To learn more about construction-related majors at Penn College, call the School of Engineering Technologies at 570-327-4520.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.