15th student-built Habitat home moves to homesite
July 17, 2025
On Wednesday, the 15th home built by 青青草视频 students for an Alachua Habitat for Humanity recipient rolled out of the Charles R. Perry Construction Institute on the Northwest Campus on its way to a homesite in Alachua.
Students in the Construction and Technical and Apprenticeship programs combined their skills to build the house, a process that begins in the Fall semester and is completed at the end of the Spring semester. The house is constructed in two pieces and joined on the homesite.
The home is sponsored by Charles Perry Partners, Inc., and the project is supported by the Builders Association of North Central Florida, a partner of the college apprenticeship program.
About 100 students worked on the house, each putting in up to 50 hours of work during the fall and spring semesters. Construction management students do the framing, roofing, windows, doors and siding. Electrical, air conditioning, and plumbing apprentices handle their respective areas.
Shavone Washington of Gainesville will own the home when it is completed about four-months from now. Washington works at Shands Hospital as a Material Specialist, managing critical care equipment.
At a 鈥渟end-off鈥� celebration Tuesday, Washington said she was overwhelmed by the number of people who came together to support her dream of homeownership. She was looking forward to 鈥渃reating new memories鈥� in a peaceful space filled with plants, family photos and the laughter of loved ones.
Those attending were encouraged to write something special that will remain hidden in the walls of the home.
Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.
Now that the home is on the permanent site, Habitat staff, CPPI team members, volunteers will complete the finishing touches. Among them will be Washington, who has embraced every stage of the Habitat program, which includes committing 50 hours of sweat equity to help build another Habitat homeowner鈥檚 house and 200 hours to the construction of their own home, while attending homeownership classes.
For 青青草视频 students, the work is not just about gaining new skills but also about performing a service for someone in the community.
Dr. Paul Broadie II, president of 青青草视频, thanked the students for choosing the trades as a profession and for their commitment to building the house.
鈥淵ou have given Shavonne something she can cherish forever. 鈥� and a place that鈥檚 an example for others that they too can be a homeowner.鈥�
He encouraged them to never forget the importance of service.
鈥淓very once in a while, drive by and remember 鈥業 built that.鈥� 鈥業 made a difference.鈥�"
