Story and photos by Saki Kambe
Peninsula College is collaborating with Habitat for Humanity for residential home building class this summer. Even though they will be obtaining all the $200-plus tools and safety equipment, there will be no additional fee other than tuition for five credits. Students can keep the tools after quarter finishes also.
Colleen Robinson, the Executive Director of the organization of Clallam County, said that 11 percent of Clallam County commerce comes from non-profit organizations, and that is the highest in Washington State.
“There is lots of need, lots of competitions for volunteers and funding. The college has a class, and we are here to build. How can we make this happen?” Robinson said this was her idea. Hence she applied for a grant in collaborating with the college and got the grant from the Port of Port Angeles. PC Foundation is supporting the class by buying the steel-toed boots for the students with four donors. Hartnagle Building
Supply and The Co-Op Farm & Garden discounted the tools.
Students will be building a house on 16th and N street, where there are some
finished houses.
Robinson said she believes this class can empower college students and those who are in need through hands-on, on-site training. She said there are not too many things to do in Port Angeles after they get a degree, but not everyone wants to move away from the area; some people do actually want to stay close to their families.
“This is about job retraining,” she said. The course includes two-day safety training that gives students a two-year certificate.
Julie Eckert, the Community Outreach Director at the organization of Clallam County, said she believes, through taking this class, students can get an overview of what it is like to construct a house from the ground. “How to safely use tools, to responsibly communicate on a work site with respect for homeowners, and to have a constant thoughtfulness,” she said.
“I just think this is a good example of how the college can work with the community providing traditional college training, but using the community as an extended campus, learning community involvement,” Brian Kneidl, the Director of Workforce Services and Partnerships said. He said it is an excellent opportunity because college because physically, it is impossible for the students to build a house within the campus.
The class is under Construction Technology, but it can also count toward electives.