Habitat for Humanity, with the help of some Iowa State student groups, recently completed its first project in Ames.

The new duplex is located at 1012 Wilson Ave. According to a press release, it is also the first Story County project for which the lot will be held by a community land trust.

This arrangement will keep the price of the units affordable for low-income purchasers, according to Habitat house price guidelines.

Vickie Williams is buying the two-bedroom portion of the duplex, which she will occupy with her daughter Brandy. Jeannie Garcia, with sons Gene and Jerry, is buying the three-bedroom portion.

John Lott, president of the Story County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, said the organization runs entirely on donations.

“Every time [donors] give a dollar, we use it three or four times,” Lott said. He said the money stays local.

Roger Stover, adviser to the ISU chapter of Habitat for Humanity, said houses are built for lower-income families in the county.

“We will build a house for a family whose median income is not more than 50 percent of the county’s [average],” he said. “[The] partner family also has to put in 500 hours of sweat equity.” According to Stover, the family then “gets an interest free mortgage.”

Stover said ISU students have worked on two Habitat for Humanity projects, one in Kelley and the most recent one which is the duplex on Wilson Avenue.

Barbara Ann Woods, volunteer coordinator of the Wilson Avenue project said there were a number of different student groups involved, including men and women from the Veishea committee, Freshman Council, veterinary medicine students, Greek Week participants and the ISU chapter of the Habitat for Humanity organization.

“The students were excellent and worked at making arrangements to come,” she said.

Kathy Craig, undeclared sophomore in liberal arts and sciences, worked on the Wilson Avenue house through a project coordinated by Freshman Council. She also worked on the Kelley project as part of Homecoming activities. Craig said Habitat presented a unique community service opportunity for students.

“This is one of the most fun community service projects I’ve ever done,” she said. “Building a house is not something you get to do every day, and you’ve got someone there to teach you how to do it.”

Craig said meeting the families who were buying the homes helped to make the project fulfilling.

“It was nice to meet the people because they showed us around the house,” she said. “It was more than just building a house; it was more like building a home.”

“You know you’re giving your time to help someone in need,” Craig said.

Woods said they had a lot of workers who came back more than once. There were also some students who bounced between the Ames project and the Kelley project, which was near completion at the time of the start of the Wilson Avenue project.

Lott said these projects are good for getting students connected.

“Over 1,000 students showed up over a month [at the Kelley project],” he said.

Habitat for Humanity is also gearing up for a new house project in Roland in which a partner family has already been selected. Lott said he hoped the project would begin soon.

There is also a blitz-building project during Homecoming week in October. During this week, coordinators expect to build 80 percent of the house.

“The idea is to bring university resources, students, administration and alumni together with Habitat, both at the local level and nationally, to build this house,” Lott said.

Saturday, Habitat for Humanity is hosting Habitour II, which is a fund-raising, picnic and bike ride celebration.

During this celebration they hope to raise enough money to completely fund the blitz-building project.

Craig said she enjoyed working on the Habitat houses and would like to participate in another project in the future.

“It’s a lot of fun to be able to say that you’ve stood 20 feet up in the air, nailing siding on a house,” Craig said.

Brochures regarding Habitour II can be picked up at Michael’s Cyclery Ski & Fitness at 320 Main St. in Ames. Those interested in helping with the planning or fund-raising for the blitz-building project can contact John Lott at 232-0888.