'Penn House' helps W. Phila.

Locust Walk is moving to a new location -- 4936 Stiles Street. Mia and Deshawn Hayward's patio is a piece of University history, built from the slate bluestones that used to line the walkways of College Green. After the University replaced the bluestones last fall, the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity quickly claimed them for "The Penn House" -- a project developed by University volunteers in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity West Philadelphia. The University Chapter of Habitat for Humanity began work on the Penn-sponsored house last spring, and in a dedication ceremony held Saturday the Haywards and their four children cut a red ribbon to symbolize a fresh start in their new home. Through corporate donations, weekly work sessions and support from West Philadelphia volunteers, University students helped complete Habitat's 17th home on the 4900 block of Stiles Street. When Habitat's West Philadelphia branch formed in 1978, 80 percent of the properties on the street had been abandoned. By 2000, the group hopes to complete all home renovations, a community house and a playground on the block. "It's a neighborhood with a lot of promise," Engineering sophomore Toni Loiacano noted, a work study production manager. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. The group reclaims abandoned houses and converts them into affordable homes. Once low-income families are selected through an application process, they are eligible to purchase the homes after donating 500 "sweat equity" hours, in which they tile and scrape along with the volunteers. The houses are sold at cost, and families repay the loan through monthly payments of about $200 -- less than half the rent of an average Center City apartment -- over a 20-year period with no interest. Becky Crawford, a single mother who in 1992 moved into "house number 5" -- the fifth house renovated on Stiles Street -- cited the problem of low-income parents not meeting stringent mortgage requirements. "Without Habitat for Humanity, I wouldn't be able to live with my children in my own home," she added. And Sheldon Rich, executive director of the West Philadelphia Chapter, noted that "Every house that we build on this street is an act of faith, a miracle that has its own story." University volunteers were grateful for the opportunity to be part of that story, but -- because of financial difficulties -- they must postpone plans to sponsor another house, according to chapter Secretary and College sophomore Christine DiBiase. Although the chapter is SAC-funded, DiBiase noted, "We can get money to do photocopying, but we can't get a $20,000 check to build a house." At a time when most University students are securely tucked away in their beds, Wharton senior and chapter President Ed Zane meets his crew at 8:20 a.m. sharp every Saturday and does not return to campus until 4:30 p.m. "By dinnertime, I feel I've accomplished a lot," Zane said. College senior Shanika Samarasinghie -- who helped renovate the house during spring break -- praised Habitat as a unique experience. "It's an opportunity to do something you don't normally get to do, like working with power tools and standing on a roof," she said.