MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Since last fall, Habitat for Humanity has seen great progress on the home under construction for a family in the Milledgeville community. And just last weekend, the organization was able to take a big step toward the home’s completion, as volunteers began framing the house.

“We’ve seen great progress on the house in less than a week,” said Murali Thirumal, the executive director of Milledgeville’s Habitat for Humanity. “We had four or five volunteers who were in construction that gave up their Saturday, Sunday and workday evenings to come and help with the framing.”

After the framing is done, Thirumal said the workers will begin putting roof trusses on the home, and he hopes that can be completed at some point this week if weather permits. 

“The biggest thing to remember is that all of these people who have done this are all volunteers,” said Thirumal. “Without them this wouldn’t be possible.”

Going forward, Thirumal said that Habitat for Humanity will need more volunteers skilled in roofing, plumbing, HVAC and electric work to work on the house to get it ready for the new family. 

“For liability reasons, we have to control who is on the construction site now,” said Thirumal. “Right now, we’d love to hear from any certified electricians, plumbers, roofers or HVAC workers who are interested in volunteering to help get the house completed.”

After all of that work is done, Thirumal said Habitat will need more volunteers to help with other tasks around the house before it is ready for the new owners to move in.

“Once the sheetrock is up, that’s when more volunteers will come in,” said Thirumal. “We’ll need their help with things like cleaning and other tasks around the house. But for now, cash donations are always accepted and are most beneficial.”

This is the local Habitat’s first new home build since 2008. Ground was officially broken on the project last October. 

Habitat for Humanity helps make home ownership possible through the use of volunteer labor. Each partner family purchases their home with an interest-free mortgage for 20 years, and performs at least 300 hours of sweat equity labor on not only their own home, but other homes that are to be built in their community as well.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity and how to help with this project, call 478-453-9617 or stop by the office located at 730 N. Wayne St. in Milledgeville.