HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Volunteers to construct 2 houses

The homes are the third and fourth to be built in the city by Habitat.
STRUTHERS -- Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County had its first double-groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday at adjoining home sites on Oakview Street.
Construction of the two houses, to be built at 149 and 151 Oakview, will require about 15 volunteers each workday -- Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Inmates at the federal prison in Elkton will build interior and exterior wall panels there for the 1,152-square-foot three-bedroom, ranch-style homes. The trade union apprentice programs will complete heating, plumbing and electrical work.
These are the third and fourth Habitat houses to be built in Struthers. The first two Habitat homes in the city are on Charles Street. Other Habitat houses will be built on Woodbine Avenue and McClure Street.
The two on Oakview will be the first built on donated property. Nine other lots in the city also have been donated to Habitat.
Buyers
Willys and Michelle Acosta and their three children, and Cindy Wellman and her son, will buy the Habitat homes on Oakview for $38,000 apiece.
The 15-year loans require no down payment, charge no interest, include taxes and insurance. Payments are $300 a month.
Each family is also required to contribute some 350 hours in "sweat equity," which includes time that will be spent working on their own homes as well as on Habitat homes for others.
Ohio Edison, a FirstEnergy company, fully funded the Wellman home. The Acosta home is funded 50/50 by FirstEnergy and the Youngstown-Columbiana Association of Realtors and area Rotary clubs.
For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, call (330) 743-7244 or log onto www.hfhofmc.org.
Habitat's monthly meetings are at 6:30 p.m. the third Monday of every month in St. John's Episcopal Church Parish House, 323 Wick Ave., Youngstown.