As part of our sponsorship with US Airways, Habitat Philadelphia has a limited number of nonrefundable airline tickets to use. We are making them available at a 40% discount to anyone who can book their flight BY JUNE 30, 2007. (Your flight can be scheduled for another time later, but they must be booked by this date.)

It's not too good to be true! If you are interested in this special deal and would like to help support Habitat through your travel plans, please contact Tim Block at 215-765-6000 x12.

I'm 56 years old and live in Parkerford, PA, about 35 miles west of Philadelphia. My husband, Ed, and I have been married 38 years, and we have two daughters and two grandchildren. I graduated from high school in 1968 and have taken some college courses over the years. I am currently employed in a very part-time capacity that allows me a great deal of flexibility.

I have been interested in Habitat for quite some time and finally decided to pursue it. I went to the Philadelphia website because I was sure there must be a good deal of building activity in the city, and that's when I first found out about the Women's Build Construction class and signed up. During the first class it was brought to my attention that this was a pilot program, so I felt very fortunate to be able to be a part of it. My Dad was my inspiration for even wanting to do something like this. He was the proverbial "jack- of-all- trades". I had helped him with projects but have always regretted that I didn't pay more attention.

For me, the most intimidating part of the class was my age, and I wondered if I would I be able to keep up. Emily and Lauren were wonderful instructors. Aided by Shelly and Alana and other weekly assistants, the whole learning process was very informative and enjoyable, and never once did I feel my age was a hindrance. I think a class for women, taught by women is an ideal concept. I have shared my experience with other women, and their first comment is "what a great idea". I expect that the most valuable thing I got from the course is "just do it". I think the hardest part of anything is deciding to do it; once the commitment is made things will fall into place. My first build day consisted of transporting lumber from a storage trailer to the site and assembling scaffolding. By three o'clock I was feeling tired, I was feeling muscles I didn't know I had, but I was feeling a great sense of accomplishment.

Several weeks ago a friend contacted me because she knew I had taken the class and was interested in volunteer building. She was in the process of making plans to go to Botswana to help build a clinic and wondered if I would be interested in going. Had I never taken the course, I doubt she would have asked me to go, nor would I have had the confidence to say yes. I committed to go, but in the end the trip was cancelled due to "government red tape".

The women in my session all had different reasons for taking this course, but the bottom line was we all needed to gain the confidence to be able to step out and do it. I would encourage anyone who might be thinking about taking the course to go for it. Maybe I'll never go to Africa to build a clinic, but I plan to keep up with my volunteer work at Habitat, and oh, by the way, I just ripped up the vinyl floor in my entryway. It needs to be replaced, and I can do it.

On Thursday, May 17, the bulldozers began digging the foundations for this long awaited project, and beginning next week Madison Concrete and Old World Construction will begin with the installation of ICF foundations and exterior walls.

ICFs are panels of polystyrene insulating material (very similar to styrofoam) secured opposite each other with embedded plastic ties, leaving a cavity between the panels. These forms are stacked together, held in place with vertical and horizontal steel reinforced bar and then filled with concrete. The result is a hard-core, sound foundation and walls with insulation both on the inside and outside. Some of the energy benefits of using these forms are as follows:

• ICFs were originally designed for speed of labor and assembly. Typical concrete foundation walls are installed with heavy, reusable concrete forms that took a lot of time and labor cost for workers to set-up and remove. ICF forms are lightweight, easily transportable and stay in place after the concrete is poured as part of the wall construction.
• Concrete foundation walls offer very poor thermal protection. The addition of insulated forms on the inside and outside of the poured concrete greatly improves the house's energy efficiency.
• ICFs use a much lower percentage of energy- deficient concrete than traditional construction would since the foam forms are part of the construction. Yet, they are extremely durable and solid walls due to the steel reinforced support structure begin completely encased in concrete.
• The foam insulating forms provide excellent fastening surfaces for exterior and interior finishes, and no interior framing will be required for the outside walls.
• ICFs provide an airtight environment with drastic noise and allergen reduction, as well as control temperature in the home, all of which contribute points towards LEED certification.
• ICF walls are fire-resistant and can withstand significant storms. In fact, many of the homes being built along the gulf coast are including ICFs to prevent significant loss from weather.
• The higher cost of ICF installation is greatly outweighed by the homeowner's energy savings over the years, though thanks to donations from PolySteel, Madison Concrete and Steel Services, LLP, Habitat is able to include this technology below the cost of our traditional foundation.

On Saturday, May 12, 2007, in celebration of Armed Forces Week, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia welcomed the return of the U.S.S. Winston S. Churchill DDG-81 by partnering with twenty of its Navy men and women in building simple, decent, affordable houses. These sailors, having arrived home last week from active service, committed to spending their first days on solid ground by helping to construct two new homes on Titan Street in South Philadelphia.

Joining the Habitat construction crew, sailors, and recruiters were members from the Navy's Construction Battalion (CB). "These highly skilled construction workers were a special addition to the site," said Volunteer Coordinator Alexis Jeffcoat. "We accomplished an unusual amount of work that day. Habitat is thrilled that the Navy is giving back to the community in this way."

Weekday Construction Volunteer - Want to enjoy the warm spring weather? Looking for a way to get involved outside? Then this is for you! Habitat Philadelphia is looking for more construction volunteers on weekdays (mostly Wednesdays or Thursdays).

Tabling or Speaking Events Volunteer - Love meeting new people? Use your gift of communication and people skills to talk to people about Habitat and housing advocacy on the weekends.

Cans for Homes Delivery Volunteer - Like to drive? Use your vehicle to help us deliver aluminum cans from schools, colleges, and corporations to local recycling agencies.

If you are interested in any of these opportunites, please contact Alexis Jeffcoat, Volunteer Coordinator, at 215-765-6000 x10 or at volunteer@habitatphiladelphia.org.

On Saturday, May 19th, about 42 people gathered for Habitat's first Singles Build day. Everyone had a great time, learned some new skills, mingled at the after- party at Joe's Coffee Bar, and expressed interest in volunteering with Habitat in the future.