• Green Building ripple effect testimonial from Farmville
• Panelized house package used by Bedford (PHOTOS)
• ICF - Insulated Concrete Forms - used by Fredericksburg (PHOTOS)
• Skill center training area created by Roanoke (PHOTOS)

Skill center training area created by Roanoke (PHOTOS)

SKILL CENTER —TRAINING FOR SUCCESS

In 2006 a Skill Center was built in the Habitat office building where Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley offers an ongoing series of free skills classes in home construction, maintenance, and repair for existing homeowners, approved homeowner applicants, and volunteers. The designated classroom space simulates conditions most often required in home construction and home repair.

The Skill Center was developed as part of Roanoke Habitat’s Strategic Plan with two deliberate goals (1) to allow homeowners and approved applicants the opportunity to assume the responsibilities of homeownership through skills training and (2) to increase building capacity by producing skilled labor volunteers. A long-term goal is to offer this outreach program to the general public.

Completed in October 2006, the center was immediately a highlight of National Association of Women in Construction's annual celebration. It complements Habitat's homeowner and volunteer training by offering both classes and hands-on practice in the tasks necessary for successful building and maintenance.

Ten training stations cover all stages of construction. Participants can learn how to read blueprints, identify and use power tools, attach siding, unclog drains, repair holes in wallboard or replace roof shingles. An "electricity wall" demonstrates how houses are wired, provides practice in resetting breakers and allows for up-close inspection of the type of smoke alarms new families will find in their homes.

Long-time Women’s Build volunteer Karen Archer and her band of intrepid, mostly female volunteers transformed a portion of Habitat's cavernous third-floor warehouse space into a first-class educational center for building and home repair. "Upon my first visit to the third floor, I knew that the Skill Center would become a valuable tool to Habitat," Karen remembers. "The dream was not only to teach future Habitat homeowners the basic repairs necessary to maintain their homes, but also a way to teach volunteers the basics of home construction before they would even set foot on a Habitat build site."

Skills honed from past Habitat experience, willingness to learn as they worked, can-do attitudes, advice from Karen's husband Brad (also in construction) and an eagerness to bring their project to completion enabled the work crew to endure near 100 degree workdays as they worked through the hottest days of the summer on a four-month project that stretched to twice the time projected.

Classes are required of all new homeowner families, who understand that they will be responsible for the maintenance and repair of their new homes. A well-maintained house is not only a more valuable house but a neighborhood asset. In addition, the center provides experiential opportunities for groups before volunteering with Habitat and is available to other housing providers in the valley as they guide their own clients toward responsible homeownership.

Funding for the Skill Center was generously provided by the Junior League of the Roanoke Valley.

Click here to see photos of the Skill Center.

(8/1/08)