Habitat builds 1st house for handicapped

Monroe County Habitat for Humanity and IU Habitat for Humanity are building their first handicap-accessible house.\nJennifer Titus was chosen to be the recipient of the house by the Habitat selection process. The first phase is anonymous, so there is no bias when the Monroe County committee views the applications, said junior Jennifer Murphy, president of IU Habitat for Humanity.\nTitus, a lifelong Bloomington resident, has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. Her house will be completely handicap accessible, including the appliances.\n"The first thing we did was build a ramp for her so she could get to her house, and we got a side-by-side refrigerator, so she could reach the icebox, too," said senior Cathy Jones, work site coordinator for IU Habitat for Humanity. "There are a lot of things you don't even think about having to do differently, so this is a new challenge for Habitat but we are always open to new ideas."\nThe Lion's Club of Monroe County is sponsoring the house by supplying the money, and they also volunteer at the work site.\n"A Habitat house ends up costing between $30,000 and $35,000," Jones said. "The homeowner has to eventually pay this money back, so she will pay it back, however long it takes, to the Lion's Club interest free."\nFraming day for the house was Sept. 16, and it is now almost winterized, Jones said. Work sessions are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.\n"They are right on schedule with the process," Murphy said. "The roof is ready to be shingled, and they did framing a couple of weeks ago."\nTitus has to put in 250 hours of sweat acuity (hours Titus has to spend working on the house), and these have to be finished by the time the house is completed, said Mary Stroup, Monroe County Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Coordinator.\n"Jennifer is there on Saturdays and is doing the hours with her mother, who she currently lives with," Stroup said.\nJones said working on the house gives Titus a sense of ownership and pride.\n"She has to be there every Saturday, and it's frustrating for her sometimes because there are some things she just can't do," Jones said. "Me and the other leaders make a conscious effort to find things she could do, so she will feel good."\nMurphy said Titus is very independent and is definitely contributing.\n"She is a really sweet and has a heart of gold," Murphy said. "She is willing to put in the time and works in the office, too."\nTitus said she hammers and cuts insulation and will at least give anything a try.\n"I am glad to be a part of something that will benefit me, and it is really kind of neat," Titus said.\nShe said she was ecstatic when she learned that her application was chosen and that she was going to have a house built for her.\n"I was shocked and was very happy," Titus said. "It is more or less a dream come true to get something that will cater to my needs."\nStroup said the plan is to have the house finished either Dec. 9 or 10, so she can get in her home before Christmas.\n"We will try to have it dedicated a week after that in which everyone who helped with the house will be there and the Lion's Club will present her with the key," Stroup said.