Home Builders Blitz Builds 400 Habitat Homes in One Week 
Earlier this month, Habitat for Humanity affiliates and more than 1,000 building industry professionals joined forces to build more than 400 houses in 130 communities across the country during Home Builders Blitz 2006. “Never before have so many Habitat homes been built so quickly,” said Kevin Campbell, director of the national Home Builders Blitz program for Habitat for Humanity. “Partnering with professional home builders allowed Habitat affiliates to increase the number of homes they build, while builders helped their communities by doing what they do best.” “NAHB is proud to participate in such a meaningful event by supplying the professional builders and tradesmen needed to construct the Habitat homes throughout the country,” said NAHB President David Pressly. The Home Builders Blitz — from June 5-9 — was the largest Habitat for Humanity project of its kind in the country and gave many low-income families the opportunity to own their own homes. NAHB member Tom Gipson, of Thomas Gipson Homes, helped spearhead NAHB and local builders association participation in the national event. He has been involved in local Home Builder Blitzes for several years. Habitat affiliates provided the land and worked alongside professional builders, their subcontractors and other volunteers representing home builders associations from across the country to complete the Habitat homes in just one week. “The week flew by in the blink of an eye, and it is hard to believe all that was accomplished in such little time,” said Dawn Wilson, of Brookstone Homes in Milwaukee. “Waking up this morning, my sore muscles reminded me of the heavy lifting that was done by so many in order to make the dream of homeownership a reality for 10 Milwaukee families.” In Charlotte, N.C., where Habitat for Humanity, NAHB and HUD kicked off the build, 16 professional home builders helped build 16 Habitat homes. The blitz helped the Charlotte Habitat affiliate increase the number of homes it will build from 39 last year to 70 homes this year. “Lives have been changed, both for builders and the new home owners,” said Campbell. “Builders and sponsors have really helped to make a difference in communities, and we are grateful for their efforts.” Ryan Lee Wood, of Wood and Hastings Construction, who worked on a Habitat home in Birmingham, Ala., agreed that lives have been changed. “The wonderful thing about this entire project was that each day we anxiously faced a new challenge,” said Wood. “Also, everyone was happy and enjoyed being a part of a work in progress. Working with wonderful people, meeting new people in the industry, eating good food and staying on schedule was why this was such a successful week. In other words, people can make a difference in our world.” For more information about Habitat for Humanity's Home Builders Blitz 2006, go to www.habitat.org/builderblitz.  | | Habitat for Humanity homes go up in Raleigh, N.C. |
 | | Stucco work in Albuquerque, N.M. |
 | | Applying finishing touches in Raleigh. |
 | | Happy home owners Timothy Scruggs and Dominique Ray outside their new home in Middle Island, N.Y. |
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