Fundraiser raises awareness of importance of shelter

PITTSBURGH (U-WIRE) — For a few dedicated University of Pittsburgh students, a Towers room is going to look really good this week.

Members of Pitt’s Habitat for Humanity will be living in a shack on the lawn of the William Pitt Union until Thursday. The fund-raiser is part of the first annual Habi-fest, a youth initiative instituted by the national chapter of Habitat. According to senior Melissa Clark, the national chapter encourages local chapters to do their part to raise awareness about the need for adequate shelter all over the world.

Last year, Pitt’s Habitat built the makeshift shelter for its own purposes.
“We built the shack last year and we thought it was really fun and a good way to get publicity,” Clark said.

Some participants will take shifts in the shack while others will be in it every night and all day except for classes, work and bathroom breaks.

The shack, made from 20 sheets of plywood and about 60 two-by-fours, also has a donations box. All proceeds will go to build a house in Uganda, India or Guatemala. Those who donate money will get to vote on the country in which the house is built. Clark said that any amount of money will help.

The house prices vary in different countries due to costs of construction and materials, as well as the standard of living that most people in the country are used to.

Clark said that the timing of Habi-fest with the rush of warm weather should bring more people out to the lawn for the next few days. She said that they have taken precautions for a damper forecast.

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