NEW CASTLE Volunteers build home for family

Habitat for Humanity is looking to build more homes in the county.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Tracy McVay tried twice to buy a home on her own, but her dream of homeownership hasn't come true until now.
The 28-year-old mother of three is working with Lawrence County Habitat for Humanity to build her a home on Chestnut Street on New Castle's east side.
McVay, her son, Trae, 10, and daughters, Ania, 5, and Alaya, 19 months, live in Neshannock Village, a complex owned by Lawrence County Housing Authority. She says she is looking forward to homeownership.
"I don't have to rent and give my money away. It will now go to my home," McVay said. "My kids will have their own space. They want so much, and we have no room for it now."
McVay works as a hairdresser at Famous Hair in Shenango Township.
Volunteers started working on the one-story, 1,100-square-foot, three-bedroom home Sept. 4, said Dave Trautman, site supervisor. Last week, they were putting insulation in the walls and dry wall.
Trautman said it normally takes about six months to complete a Habitat for Humanity house, but this home may be done sooner.
"It's going to be done by the holiday, but I'm not saying which holiday," Trautman joked.
Group effort
Mark Pearson, a Boy Scout from Laurel High School, did the foundation block work, with the help of his father and grandfather who are both Masons, for his Eagle Scout service project.
Trautman said they completed the block foundation in one day.
A core group of 15 volunteers works each week and is helped by pupils from Shenango, Mohawk, Laurel and Union high schools, he said. Various churches and other groups provide lunch, and Dunkin Donuts provides breakfast.
Six Shenango High School students put insulation in the bedrooms last Wednesday.
"I think it's nice to contribute to the community and help out when we can. It's our senior project, but I think I would come anyway," said Marenda Magnone, a Shenango High School senior.
Beth Pears, a Shenango High English teacher, said the schools' 104 seniors are given a chance to work at the home each Wednesday. A teacher accompanies each group.
Volunteers work on the home Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Jennifer Gordon, Lawrence County Habitat executive director, said McVay is required to put in 250 hours of "sweat equity," or work, into building the house.
"The idea behind sweat equity is she helped build the house, and it gives her a greater sense of ownership," she said.
Habitat goals
This is the ninth house built by Lawrence County Habitat for Humanity.
Gordon said they are looking for other lots throughout the county. Habitat needs reasonably priced or donated lots because the cost of a lot is put into the new homeowner's mortgage, she said.
They also need to be in areas where public sewer and water are available because the cost of septic tanks and wells would be to much for the new homeowners, Gordon said.
"We'd like to build in Ellwood City, New Wilmington and Wampum," she said.
Each homeowner must qualify through an application process and is given two family partners, volunteers that counsel the new homeowner on a weekly basis about the needs and responsibilities of owning a home.
cioffi@vindy.com