Harford Academy staff spent a recent Saturday volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna to help a student’s mother complete the 250 hours of “sweat equity” required to own the Havre de Grace home. Here are the details provided by Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna:
Each “sweat equity” opportunity brings a Habitat homebuyer one step closer to accomplishing their goal of becoming a homeowner. Habitat homebuyer LaTera Lawhorn (center) is pictured with staff from the Harford Academy, longtime Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna “core” volunteers, and AmeriCorps members spending a service term with Habitat. LaTera and all of the volunteers were working at the Habitat duplex build site on Erie Street, Havre de Grace, under the supervision of Site Construction Supervisor Tom Baker (pictured, back row with beard).
Volunteers from Harford Academy contribute maximum allowable limit (100 hours) towards Habitat homebuyer’s “sweat equity” hours
Habitat homebuyer’s daughter has cerebral palsy and is a student at the school
BEL AIR, MD (Feb 2, 2023) – On January 28, approximately 15 members of Bel Air’s Harford Academy (formerly known as the John Archer School) volunteered to help Habitat homebuyer LaTera Lawhorn towards completing her required 250 hours of “sweat equity.” The volunteers contributed the maximum allowable limit — 100 Friends & Family hours — in a show of support for the single mother of two, whose older daughter attends their school.
“Harford Academy staff is spending one of our Saturday’s to volunteer because our school community is a family and this is what we do. We come together to support each other. Family is what our school is all about,” said Harford Academy’s volunteer build organizer, Rachel Otremba, who is a Special Education Teacher and Technology Support Specialist at the school.
Although they worked at Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna’s current build site on Erie Street, Havre de Grace, construction of LaTera’s future home on Ohio Street won’t begin until the March timeframe. It will include wheelchair-accessible features, as LaTera’s daughter has cerebral palsy and does not walk. Members of the school plan to come back once that home build site is open to volunteers.
“Samiya has been attending Harford Academy since she was 3 years old,” said LaTera. “That school has been family to us, so when her teacher Ms. Rachel found out when we’re getting a house, she instantly asked how she could help. I explained to her about my construction hours. Ms. Rachel, along with other teachers, were 100 percent on board.”
As with all Habitat Susquehanna homebuyers, 200 of LaTera’s required “sweat equity” hours will go towards building her Habitat home or the home of another; and, the remaining 50 hours will go towards taking mandatory financial literacy classes (in order to learn good money management skills) and home maintenance classes. Approved homebuyers must go through the rigorous financial review process to ensure they are eligible candidates for Habitat Susquehanna’s Homeownership Program. The eligibility criteria include demonstrating a housing need; showing an ability to make monthly mortgage payments; and, willingness to partner with Habitat Susquehanna.
“My family is so grateful for the school and staff,” said LaTera. “It makes me feel like I will never be alone. They have my back.”
People interested in volunteering at any of the current home build sites can register through Habitat Susquehanna’s website at www.habitatsusq.org.
