The Penn State Chapter of Habitat for Humanity is taking a step of its own with the construction of the first Penn State Habitat house in Port Matilda.

Under the supervision of members on the Tri-County Habitat for Humanity, Penn State Students will begin construction on the first Penn State Habitat house in the fall as soon as students return.

Sue Smith, a fundraising and development worker for the Tri-County Habitat, said, "It's a really great project that they're doing on their own. The students designed it themselves, will build it themselves and are sitting on the committee that will choose the family for the Penn State Habitat house."

Sam Komlenic from Tri-County Habitat, has nothing but praise for the Penn State Chapter.

"We gave them a challenge. Since it costs $50,000 to build a Habitat home we told them if they raised $40,000 we'd give them the land and the other $10,000," Komlenic said. "We expected them to take more then two years to raise the money, but they were ambitious enough to do it in a little over one year." The Penn State Chapter of Habitat for Humanity keeps its fundraising efforts high all year round.

Colleen Morrissey (senior-sociology), the house sponsor director, said the chapter was dedicated to reaching its goal. "Almost every weekend we have 'Rent-a-Worker' where students do odd jobs for people in the community in exchange for a donation," Morrissey said. "However, the majority of our money came from our participation in Tri-County's House walk last year where we raised $8,000, and a grant from Habitat for Humanity International who pledged to match almost half of the money we raised."

Morrissey said she is extremely excited that the chapter is taking on such an extensive project. Since the chapter is only five years old Morrissey was originally skeptical that they could take a venture of this magnitude.

"This is an amazing experience for everyone involved," Morrissey said. "It means so much to us that we are able to branch out from Penn State and help families in the Centre County Region."

While the house is being built entirely by Habitat volunteers, the House's design is the semester project of the Architectural Engineering 470 class, lead by Professor Eric Brunett.

Students will present their final designs for the Habitat house to the zoning board on at 8 a.m. Tuesday. While the students are away over the summer the Tri-County Habitat for Humanity will lay down the foundation and start the infrastructure for the building. When the students return in the fall, they will start construction and start receiving applications and interviewing families. The Tri-County Habitat for Humanity office says they have a list of approved applicants.

"Unfortunately we are unable to accept the poorest of the poor," Komlenic said. "While the families are low income and in debt, to be eligible they must also demonstrate the ability to get out of debt." To be eligible the families need to be able to pay a $500 down payment, taxes and insurance, along with a monthly interest free mortgage. Komlenic said the Habitat home provides eligible families with better living conditions, which will not take up a majority of their income. Tri-County Habitat also hopes the low-cost housing will help to free up some of the family's income allowing them to get out of debt and do other things with their money.

"We've got families who have been able to even start their own businesses," Komlenic said. "It also enables them to become more active in their community.

"This house will truly be the feather in the cap of many organizations," Komlenic said.