Frame the house in pieces and load it onto trucks.
3
Step Three:
Assemble house and make it a home in Esenanda, Mexico!
When was the last time you made something? (Sandwiches don’t count!) If you can't remember, you're definitely not alone. The opportunity to build something meaningful with nothing but tools and our hands just doesn't come up very often in today's modern world. If you're looking to create an opportunity to get in touch with the builder in you, you could always do what Aaron did in Mexico: Build a loft house for a worthy family in need! What could be cooler than that?
Volunteer | 8 February, 2016 |
Aaron
What a weekend. Could not have asked for a better trip!
The weekend before, we cut and framed the whole house, loading it on trucks to take down to Mexico. Always fun working side by side with great friends and slapping together a beautiful house (2 of them to be exact) for a family in need.
The next weekend, we drove a few hours south of border to assemble and construct a loft house for 2 amazing families. In less than 8 hours, two houses were turned into Homes.
It is an amazing thing watching someone sit on a bed that is theirs forever. One woman we met (age 71) had never owned a bed. It was pretty special to build her a house and give her a place to call her own.
I got involved with these housebuilds about 5 years ago, and it's always a great experience, to say the least.
The material for each house is surprisingly low. $4,500 includes all materials. For less than $5,000, we change a family’s life forever. Each house sleeps between 2-16 people too. I'd say that’s a pretty good return on investment!
One Weekend. Two Houses.
It only takes a weekend to get these houses put together thanks to the modular method of building we use. We start building the house locally in pieces and then load them all up on trucks. We end up transporting 4 walls, the flooring, the laminate flooring, a door, 4 section roof, the second floor (loft) flooring, roofing materials, and then a bunch of random cuts of wood to do any number of extras.
We also bring along a gravity fed water tank so they can have "running" water in their house. In Mexico, they do not have ground water or any sewage system to bring running water to homes. Instead, water trucks drive around with potable water and they’ll hook up to your water tank and fill it up as much or as little as you would like.
Building a house might sound daunting or intimidating, but we do our best to show anyone and everyone who is willing to lend a hand how to do something. I have witnessed women who join us, who have never used a framing gun at all before (think really, really large nail gun) become experts after framing an entire house! If you want to jump in and learn how to frame a window, or put hurricane clips (clip the roof to the frame of the house so it won't blow off) on a house, we will show you!
The whole experience is worthwhile, but there are definite highlights. One is the food. To be served by a family who has nothing, who has to scrape up probably $50 to make us food for lunch is the most gracious and amazing part of that day for my heart. Building the house is the icing on the cake compared to that.
However, the end-all is when that family is handed the keys to their new home. The emotion in that moment is overwhelming. You feel it, you see it, and you just get the understanding of someone’s life being changed for the better in a massive way. To go from having almost no shelter to this home, that is bulletproof awesome.
Want to get involved with housebuilds? If so, visiting Corazón's website is a great start. For over 35 years, Corazón has facilitated housebuilds in impoverished regions in Mexico. Their mission is to help people create a lasting legacy by giving a hand up to worthy Mexican families in need.
Housebuild Photo Credit: Matthew Coon Photography
Cookie Consent
We use only essential cookies necessary to the functionality of our website. Additionally, we use marketing cookies from the Zoho Sales widget to enhance your experience and provide personalized content. Read more on our Privacy Policy.
When you visit our website, we use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience. This information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalized web experience. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies by clicking on the different category headings to find out more and change your settings. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on the site and the services we are able to offer. Further information can be found in our
Manage Consent Preferences
Basic cookie files(always active)
These cookies are essential for the proper functioning of the website. They are usually only set in response to actions you take which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling out forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will then not work. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Targeting cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by these companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.