Palouse Habitat for Humanity house announces future homeowner

PALOUSE — The future owner of the Palouse Habitat for Humanity’s 23rd home will be announced Sunday, Sept. 10, at 2 p.m., at the home located in Palouse at 109 West Park Street.

Future homeowner Kelsey Blair has worked most of her career in public school districts since graduating college in 2013.

Blair applied for the Habitat for Humanity house because ownership was far out of reach for single-income households. “I want people to know that I have not been unemployed, never been terminated from a job, and never filed bankruptcy,” she said.

Blair said she and her son are looking forward to a place to call their own. “As a mother, I wished I could have done this earlier in his life,” Blair said, adding that she’s grateful to have the opportunity now.

“My son has a few years left in high school. He is a great kid,” Blair said, adding that he participates in 3 sports per year and FFA (Future Farmers of America).

“The house will become the home base for him for the remainder of his high school years, and as he enters early adulthood, and for that, I am appreciative,” she said.

Habitat expects the house to cost $258,000 to build. The funds will be raised through grants, fundraisers, and donations of materials or labor.

Funds are raised locally by purchasing building materials and hiring local sub-contractors.

Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Jennifer Wallace said that the house is expected to be done early next spring.

“I’m excited to help build the house and learn some handyman skills that will help me take care of the house once it’s finished,” Blair said, adding that she is thankful to Habitat for Humanity and the volunteers for their amazing work.

Wallace also added that for this build, Habitat would be a case study for a Washington State University (WSU) 200-level construction graphics class taught by WSU Professor Hong Tao Dang, bringing in roughly 120 students to help with the build.

Students will be presented with the basics of building and can volunteer on Fridays, Thursdays and Saturdays if they choose.

Wallace said their regular volunteers always do a terrific job, and they’ve had a lot more interest in volunteering since COVID-19 ended.

“We still need volunteers,” Wallace said, adding that if anyone is interested in volunteering in the build on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Those interested can find a form online at https://palousehabitat.org/volunteer.