Students bolster dreams of home

College and high school students pitched in yesterday to make the dream of homeownership a reality for low-income D.C. residents during the 16th annual National Youth Service Day.

Thirty-five volunteers showed up early to dig trenches for drainage systems and paint interiors of houses at 55th and Clay streets NE for DC Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that builds homes with low-income families. The National Youth Service Day is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the city.

Students from Howard, Catholic, George Washington and Georgetown universities worked up a sweat wielding pickaxes to break some hard ground around several of the five houses that volunteers spruced up during the day.

“The turnout is pretty good. Everybody who signed up, showed up,” said Brendon Fox, one of the two site supervisors. “This brings the immediate community together to show what Habitat for Humanity does. There’s concern that we are a for-profit company, building houses, but that’s not it — we build communities.”

Ten new homes are under construction at the Northeast site, but the organization’s goal is to build 53 houses in the same area in five years.

More than 8,000 D.C. young people rolled up their sleeves for the three-day National Youth Service Day activities that took place all around the District. The National Council of Negro Women teamed up with Friendship Edison Collegiate Academy in Northeast to assemble gift bags for the homeless, and the Kaveri Youth Committee teamed with the Lamond-Riggs Library in Northeast to plant flowers and shrubs and perform other landscaping.

Aaron Himchak, 19, a George Washington University freshman, said he received an e-mail about Habitat for Humanity’s local efforts and decided to help out.

“I have to do community service for the B.A.-M.D. program that I am in, [but] I like doing stuff like this. I spent my spring break building a park in South America,” he said.

“Every time you do this — you see the change you’ve made, and it’s great. It’s actually good to make something. You’ve worked hard and feel as if you’ve made a difference,” Mr. Himchak said.

Cynthia Taylor, 38, and Rodney Oden, 35, walked through “House No. 4” to see the floor plans and to find out what the organization’s “sweat equity” requirement entails. The couple, who live several blocks from the new housing development, have submitted their application and are waiting to find out if they have been accepted. They live in an apartment now, but want to own such a two-story home with three bedrooms.

“This will be our first home, and we were inspired by our daughter,” Mr. Oden said, looking down at the precocious 4-year-old by his side. “Homeownership is everybody’s dream.”

“I want a better environment for my daughter and the school is across the street. This would be a prime location. You know, everyone is not fortunate enough to have a home and to have a home in D.C.,” Ms. Taylor said.

Hakim Hasan, 21, a Howard University senior, removed a huge rock while digging a trench and drew lots of wows from the group of volunteers, including students from the Hyde Leadership Public Charter School and Marriott Hospitality Public Charter School.

“This is great,” said Mr. Hasan, who also works for Habitat for Humanity. “I think it’s important that people help low-income families. I know there’s a lot of economic disparity [in the District]. And it’s good that people are trying to make an effort to eliminate poverty.

“What I like about this is that it is not a giveaway program. The people who will be receiving the homes are required to do sweat equity — and pitch in during the building. It’s not just sign up and get a house,” he said.

Brenda Hawkins is aware of this. Ms. Hawkins, 34, and her two children will soon move into House No. 4, and yesterday she was volunteering along with others.

Ms. Hawkins said she has learned a lot about what it takes to build a house. “I’ve learned about drywalling, painting, corking, nails and hammers,” she said smiling. “I feel great about the program and about homeownership. This will be my first home, and we will probably move in in June.”