Evansville, Indiana (February 26, 2010) – Young Evansville leaders are combining their talents and resources to build a Habitat for Humanity home for a single mother, and they are challenging other leaders to join their cause. About 400 people in their 20s and 30s are expected to participate in the build. They represent the University of Southern Indiana Campus Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the University of Southern Indiana Honors Program, and four different organizations in the community, including Young Evansville Professionals, Rotaract, Museum Contemporaries and Give Back Tristate.

“Sponsoring a house has been a dream of USI Habitat for as long as we’ve had a campus chapter," said Julie Mehringer, one of the young leaders heading up the build. "It’s great to finally see it happen.” Mehringer is also a member of Habitat for Humanity of Evansville’s board of directors.

Kick-off for the build will be April 17, and the group hopes to have it built in three weeks.

Habitat for Humanity of Evansville is a nonprofit Christian ministry that builds and sells simple, decent homes for people in Vanderburgh and Posey counties. To qualify, applicants must have a need for housing; they must contribute 300 hours of sweat equity toward the building of their homes and the homes of other families; and they must have the ability to pay their mortgage, based on a 25-year, no-interest loan. Families pay an average $275 a month for their homes, which includes taxes and insurance.

Owning her own home will be a welcome relief for Angela Judge, who will purchase the home the young leaders will build. She is a single mother and works as a revenue clerk at the Evansville Department of Parks and Recreation. She currently lives with her mother while she works on her sweat-equity, spending many Saturdays on construction sites in an effort to fulfill her requirements.

Judge’s new home will be built in the Glenwood neighborhood, bordered by Kentucky Avenue, the Veteran’s Memorial Parkway and Riverside Drive. Habitat for Humanity of Evansville and many other partners are collaborating on the Glenwood Community Development Initiative to revitalize this area and have already undertaken many projects, including several clean-up days and a community garden. Habitat for Humanity is partnering with Bussing Construction to build a development called Shadewood Place in this area that will include 19 Habitat homes and four market-rate homes. Construction on these homes will begin this summer.

It costs $55,000 to sponsor a Habitat for Humanity of Evansville home. So far, the young leaders have raised $20,000 toward the home they will build in Glenwood. To help raise funds, they are planning a 5k race on April 24 at the University of Southern Indiana. They also are recruiting volunteers to raise awareness for the build and to help during construction.

These leaders share a commitment to improve their community. If you would like to join them, please call or email Julie Mehringer at (812) 630-0932.

Students involved with the USI Chapter of Habitat for Humanity raise money to build houses and volunteer on the work site during the builds. If you would like to become a member of USI Habitat for Humanity, email chapter president, Brad Cadden.