Nineteen UMass Dartmouth students, who are members of the university’s local Habitat For Humanity chapter, traveled to Durham, North Carolina recently as part of an alternative spring break effort to help build homes for families in need. Working with the Durham chapter of Habitat For Humanity, the students worked on window installation, deck staining, exterior painting, construction of a handicap ramp, framing and exterior insulation sheathing.

Tyler Oliver of Dartmouth was among the students who made the trip.

“Our alternative spring break trips are always transformative, and this was no different, especially for graduating seniors,” said student Nicole Chahwan, who serves as president of UMass Dartmouth’s Habitat For Humanity chapter. “Habitat is an awesome group and I'm very proud to lead and be a part of such a wonderful organization of dedicated students.”

Habitat provides low-cost homes to people and families in financial need. When the home is built, the families pay a mortgage payment to Habitat for Humanity at a reduced price.

Over the years, the families can pay off their home and own it, or they have the right to give the home back to Habitat to sell to another Habitat family. To allow families to afford these quality homes, volunteers help build the homes. UMass Dartmouth Habitat students worked on five new construction and repair sites.