Builders loyal to helping during a tough economy

June 15, 2010

As a community, Bloomington stands out — a vast majority of time in a positive way. The biennial Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County Builders’ Blitz is one of those ways.

Despite a difficult economy, nine local home builders have joined forces to construct four homes for Habitat in 10 days. They get in-kind donations of materials and services and donate their labor and expertise to put families in decent, simple homes in accordance with Habitat’s mission.

The project kicked off Monday and will continue through June 25. What makes this different is there is no national Builders’ Blitz this year and this is the only one going on in Indiana, according to Kerry Thomson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County. But the local home builders, she said, “remain loyal. These guys are awesome.”

Here’s another way to look at the contribution of the home builders. The homes, when completed, will have an appraised value of half a million dollars.

When the first local “Blitz” was held in 2006, it doubled the number of houses Habitat was able to build from five to 10. Five more houses were built in the 2008 event, and this year, the four houses will add to seven others built by Habitat volunteers in 2010.

“That will really put a dent in our waiting list,” said Thomson. That list stands at 23. “The need right now is incredible,” she said.

The four homes will be dedicated June 25 in the Cedar Chase neighborhood Habitat is in the process of developing. They represent the 99th, 100th, 101st, and 102nd Habitat for Humanity homes built in Monroe County.

We applaud the nine builders involved in this year’s Blitz: Blue Line Building and Design Inc.; Building Associates Inc.; G&S Homes Inc.; John Ingram Builders.; Patriot Interiors Inc.; Plumb Inc.; Rubicon Custom Homes; T.A. Fuller Homes Inc.; W.S. Homes Inc. They all help make Bloomington different — in a good way.

Copyright: HeraldTimesOnline.com 2010