Members of Penn State's campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity have teamed up to build a house with local affiliate Tri-County Habitat for Humanity.

The goal of the effort, called House Project, is to build the first Penn State student-sponsored Habitat home. Rather than sending volunteers to work on an existing building project, students will raise the necessary building funds and provide the labor for a house.

This week, called Habitat Week, marks the beginning of the fundraising campaign, which seeks to raise $40,000 in order to begin construction.

"If every student gave a dollar, we could build a house for a local family and really make an impact on someone's life," said Jenifer Brake (senior-accounting), communications director of Penn State's Habitat, connecting the fundraising goal with the approximate number of students at University Park campus. "It seems a lot less daunting when you put it in that perspective."

In order to educate students about how they can help with House Project, Penn State Habitat for Humanity will have an information session at 7:30 p.m. today in 102 Forum.

Students will explain what Habitat for Humanity is and how it operates, as well as their specific plans for House Project. A Habitat homeowner and a board member from Tri-County Habitat will speak about how the group has affected their lives.

Habitat for Humanity is an international organization, Brake said, but local chapters like Tri-County and Penn State's student chapter carry out most of its activities.

"They build houses for low income families, but it's not a giveaway program," Brake said. "The families pay for the houses at cost."

Brake said that volunteer labor and long-term mortgages with no interest make it easy for the families to afford the homes.

Dennis Hameister, president of Tri-County Habitat, explained the progression of the plan for the student house. Hameister said that after the full amount has been raised, the local affiliate will donate a plot of land.

"Once that money is raised, Tri-County Habitat is going to choose a plot of land to donate," said Pat Fitzgerald (senior-logistics, international business and comparative literature), education director of Penn State Habitat for Humanity. "We're hoping to have the involvement of students and faculty and everyone to help raise the money."

Since Tri-County has land buyers, they agreed to make the land donation.

Tri-County will also select the family that will receive the house and provide a site supervisor. "What we are encouraging the campus chapter to do is to get one of their people to sit on the family selection committee," said Hameister. "The family selection process is a tough one, because there are so many families looking for houses."

Brake said that families are required to assist volunteers with the building of their own homes.

"I think what really made me get so involved with Habitat was that I worked side by side with my homeowner the entire week," said Brake of an experience on a Spring Break Habitat trip. "She was one of the most inspirational people I've ever met."

Following tonight's information session, Habitat students will begin canning on campus and in the local community for House Project. If they are able to raise the target funds by the end of the semester, the foundation for the house will be constructed over the summer so that students can begin construction of the home when they return in August.

Hameister said the student chapter will likely raise the money by the end of the next fall semester. "I think realistically it's going to occur the end of 2001," he said. "I think they can raise $40,000 pretty easily."