SF College moves 15th Habitat home to Alachua

Alachua Habitat for Humanity homeowner Shavonne Washington poses for a photo in front of her new home Wednesday morning.
Alachua Habitat for Humanity homeowner Shavonne Washington poses for a photo in front of her new home Wednesday morning
Photo by Nick Anschultz

A new home built by students at Santa Fe College (SF) was moved Wednesday morning to its final location in Alachua. 

Located at 14261 NW 135th Terrace, the house is the 15th one students at SF’s Charles R. Perry Construction Institute have built in partnership with Alachua Habitat for Humanity and Builders Association of North Central Florida, and the fourth sponsored by Charles Perry Partners Inc., according to a Habitat for Humanity press release.  

“This partnership helps a local family achieve the dream of homeownership while also empowering students to gain real-world construction experience,” Brian Leslie, president and CEO of CPPI, said in the release. “It’s a meaningful way for us to give back and carry forward Mr. Perry’s legacy through the construction institute that bears his name.” 

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This year’s home belongs to Shavonne Washington, a lifelong Gainesville resident and material specialist at UF Health Shands Hospital.   

The home departed from the Perry Contruction Institute around 8:45 a.m. Wednesday morning. This was after the college hosted a send-off celebration at the facility on Tuesday. 

The house, which is 1,250 square feet, was moved to the new site via one truck and two trailers, said George Tedder, a professor of construction management within the SF Perry Construction Institute. 

A crane lifts one section of the Habitat house off a trailer Wednesday morning.
Photo by Nick Anschultz A crane lifts one section of the Habitat house off a trailer Wednesday morning.

The home was in two sections when it arrived at the new location at roughly 10 a.m., with each side lifted off the trailer and placed onto the concrete foundation separately. 

SF President Dr. Paul Broadie II was among those who watched the home get dropped into its permanent spot Wednesday morning.  

“It means a lot,” he said. “It really ties right into the Santa Fe College mission and how we help to transform lives not just through the power of education, but through service to the community. 

“Our students helping to build this home says to them that service and giving back to others is important, as they’re learning their trait or their craft.” 

Tedder described the home building process as a “team effort.” 

He said roughly 100 students – in both the construction management and apprenticeship programs – work on the house, adding they each put in about 48 to 50 hours of work during the fall and spring semesters. 

“The construction management students are the ones that do the framing, the roofing, the windows, doors and siding,” Tedder said. “The electrical apprentices install the electrical, the air conditioning apprentices install the air conditioning system, and the plumbing students install the plumbing.” 

Tedder said building costs right now are running around $200 per square foot, adding he estimates this build – minus labor – would cost somewhere in the range of $60 to $70 a square foot.  

Tedder said SF and CPPI both make contributions toward the expenses associated with the house. 

While SF and CPPI cover a portion of the home expenses, Washington also had certain requirements to meet once she was accepted into Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program.  

“We have a four-step program, and it’s a $1,000 down payment,” said Kristine Thompson, interim executive director of Habitat for Humanity, adding it’s a $250 per step agreement.  

Part of those requirements for future Habitat homeowners also includes maintaining a debt/income ratio of 43% or below and meeting a minimum 40% average medium income throughout the entire program.  

Additionally, Thompson said future homeowners are also required to do 250 hours of sweat equity, adding this includes 50 hours at someone else’s house and 200 at their own location. 

“It’s a big commitment,” she said. “We tell our homeowners when they come to orientation, ‘This is a commitment that you’re making today. We are committed to build you an affordable home and a quality-built home, and your commitment is to go through these four-step programs and stay in compliance.’” 

Alachua Habitat for Humanity homeowner Shavonne Washington, left, videos as her home is lifted off the trailer Wednesday morning.
Photo by Nick Anschultz Alachua Habitat for Humanity homeowner Shavonne Washington, left, videos as her home is lifted off the trailer Wednesday morning.

When asked what it was like to see the entire process come to fruition, Washington said she was “happy” and “very excited” to see that her house was moving.  

Washington said she is most looking forward to having cookouts at her new home and growing a garden. 

“I’m also looking forward to family coming together,” she said.  

Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News.   

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