Hometown Habitat News

Leesburg High construction academy marks halfway point on Habitat for Humanity house

LEESBURG — Students in the Leesburg High School Construction Academy showed off their progress on the Habitat for Humanity home construction project on Wednesday.

The academy and nonprofit organization marked the halfway point of the house by hosting a dry-in ceremony, marking the completion of the home’s outer shell and the beginning of interior work. 

The home, located at 933 E. Main St. in Leesburg, is the third home built through their partnership which helps introduce students to a career in construction. 

“This project is really two-fold,” Danielle Stroud of Habitat for Humanity. “We are able to provide affordable housing to a much-deserving family in the community and the students get hand-on experience in building a house from the ground up.” 

Out of around 200 kids in the Leesburg construction program, a group of 12 to 15 students, are selected to work on this year-long project. The kids take part in every aspect of building a house, working alongside industry professionals and seeing first-hand what it takes to enter the workforce. This year’s home is expected to be finished by the end of the school year in May.

“I feel like I wouldn’t be who I am today without this opportunity,” sophomore Breanna Ice said. “When I joined, I thought it would be just hammers and nails. But I’ve built a family and never thought would I ever be building a house. I love knowing I’m able to help people and that this house will be here long after we are gone.”

Ro-Mac Lumber & Supply is this year’s corporate sponsor and the City of Leesburg donated the land for the home. 

Click here to read the full story by Cindy Peterson, Special to the Daily Commercial