‘Peace of mind’ for Erie family

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — With a hammer in his hand and a hard hat on his head, Monytwic Kuol Arop built stability for his family.

Each nail he pounded in the rafters recently brought him, his wife and their children closer to the homeownership they’d known once before, in another land.

“It’s a great opportunity for me and my family to have a property to own,” Kuol Arop said. “It gives us a little bit peace of mind.”

Natives of Sudan, Kuol Arop and his wife, Sophia Deng, and their two oldest daughters left that country a decade ago because of political reasons. The family, which now includes three more children, currently rents living space from the Erie Housing Authority.

Through Greater Erie Area Habitat for Humanity’s House That Faith Built project, the family will soon have a new home of its own. Volunteers from area churches began building the family a house June 1. They will finish it Sunday.

“It means a lot for us. It shows what caring and compassion mean,” Kuol Arop said.

“Look at all these people, giving all they have, their valuable time and everything to help my family out,” he said as he took a break from working on the house recently.

Around him, 30 volunteers from 11 area churches were hammering inside and out. In less than three days, the walls were already up and the roof on top. Volunteers were just starting on the shingles that day.

About 400 people are expected to work on the house during the accelerated build that is celebrating Greater Erie Area Habitat’s 20th anniversary. Nancy Milkowski, director of the local Habitat affiliate, said such structures usually take nine months to complete.

Deng called it a “blessing house” when ground was broken in April at 1266 E. 23rd St. Her two oldest daughters, Achay Biong, 13, and Awar Biong, 12, said they were very excited for work to begin on their house.

The trio came to Erie in 1999. Kuol Arop followed in 2000. He said they settled here through a U.N. program for refugees and had no prior connections to Erie, but they have made it their home.

Son Biong Biong, 7, daughter Achol Biong, 5, and son Kuol Biong, 4, are all Pennsylvania-born, their father said proudly.

The family members have been renting a five-bedroom house. When the Habitat build is done, they will have a four-bedroom, ranch-style home. Kuol Arop said his sons will share a bedroom and so will the two younger girls.

The children are all too young to work on the house, although they have stopped by to see its progress. Habitat volunteers must be at least 16 years old, Milkowski said.

Adult Habitat recipients must put in what is called “sweat equity hours” on their own or other people’s houses.

Kuol Arop has completed more than 200 of the required 300 hours and has helped with two houses in Erie and one in Union City.

“I’m not real skilled, so I just do what they tell me to do,” he said.