Students Spend Spring Break Fixing Quake-Damaged Homes

Instead of swilling beer and baking on a beach somewhere, a group of Arizona State University students is spending spring break manning jackhammers and chiseling away at a damaged chimney in Eloise Derse’s back yard in Chatsworth.

The college students, 40 in all, are part of the Habitat for Humanity work force helping earthquake victims such as Derse repair and rebuild.

So far, 46 people have requested help from the nonprofit organization that helps finance and build houses for people who otherwise couldn’t afford them.

Habitat International, based in Americus, Ga., has raised $2 million to help low-income families whose homes were damaged in earthquake.

But officials of the Habitat affiliate in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, which is coordinating all the earthquake recovery efforts, say more is needed.

“We need building materials; we need funds, and we need particularly skilled labor. Rehabilitation work is a little different from new construction,” said Robert Lamishaw, the chapter’s executive director. “Volunteers who are available during the week are critically needed.”

Homeowners can qualify if their income falls below 80% of the median county income and they have no other funding alternative. They also must repay Habitat’s no-interest loan. And, the hallmark of Habitat’s sweat equity program, the homeowner must be willing to participate.

If homeowners can’t help do the physical work, they can ask relatives or friends to substitute for them. They can answer telephones for Habitat, prepare food or sign people in at work sites.

“Most people can do something and are perfectly willing to do so,” Lamishaw said, adding that homeowners are expected to put in one hour of work for every $100 of costs involved.

Habitat is offering aid for minor repairs, rehabilitation of homes with structural damage and construction of new homes.

Derse, a retired teacher who lives with her disabled adult son, wandered out into her back yard Wednesday to watch the students.

“They’re a great bunch of kids,” she said. “I think it’s marvelous.”

Lisa Hanley slumped in a lawn chair, her hands still covered with large grimy work gloves.

“I just tore down a shed,” the 19-year-old sophomore said, cheerfully explaining her need to rest for a while.

Karen Wells looked through clear plastic goggles and the jackhammer she was guiding through concrete, trying to create a post hole for Derse’s new fence.

It was the British student’s first trip to California and her first time to swing a jackhammer.

“Did you notice?” she asked.

For information about volunteering or donating to Habitat, call 1-800-266-7047.