Habitat for Humanity

A week ago I joined for 4 hours with a community project called Habitat for Humanity. Clearly I did not get much done during this time, but it was interesting to see, how this kind of thing works.

The idea is that volunteers come and help to build houses for poor, who cannot afford a house themselves. Some companies provide tools and some provide free food for volunteers. But in general, a house is build in just 7 Saturdays. In current case 6 houses were built close to each other, as you can see on the picture. As a result, a house will cost $75K and the new owner eventually has to pay it up - this is not a municipality house. There is clear aim to make these new owners feel responsible for their new property.

But as you may see on the picture, the houses are not of wonderful quality. They have 3 small bedrooms, a kitchen, living room and bathroom. Building materials are basic. I was once again proven, that a house that looks like wooden house is actually coverd with wood-imitated plates. Just like the fancy marble buildings on Emory campus actually have steel frame and 99% of "brick" buildings in Atlanta are actually wooden and have a layer of bricks outside, sometimes only on front facade. And these colonial style homes with columns might have been built just 10 years ago.

I almost cannot take this fakeness any more. But then again I understand that end is more important than means. I'm torn.