Mike Wolanin | The Republic The 50th home built by BCSC C4 Columbus Area Career Connections program in Columbus is seen on Sept. 1.
Before academics coined the term “experiential learning” in the mid-1980s, students in Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s building trades program already had more than a decade of experience with a hands-on, learn-by-doing program.
Our community should celebrate the 50th anniversary of the BCSC C4 home building program, which earlier this month marked the completion of a brand new home on Ninth Street in Columbus — the 42nd such accomplishment in the program’s history, The Republic’s Jana Wiersema reported.
Students in the program began work on the house last summer and the 1,500-square-foot home sold for $190,000, with the deal closing on Aug. 30. Significantly, the home in a small way addresses an ongoing need for affordable housing in our community, providing not just a home but an opportunity for a local family of modest means.
As Wiersema wrote, the home built by C4 students is the fourth in the Lincoln Central Neighborhood Homebuyer program, said Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corp. Executive Director Eric Frey.
“The SIHCDC acts as the developer for the homebuyer program, which is a collaborative effort between several partners. C4 handles construction of housing that is both affordable and of good quality. The Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center (LCNFC), in conjunction with other partners, provides resources to prospective buyers as they go through the application and homebuying process,” Wiersema reported.
To qualify for the program, buyers must have a household income below 80% of the local median income and complete the Homebuyer Counseling Education class. The LCNFC identifies potential homebuyers and also facilitates the class.
“It’s more than just a house,” said Randy Allman, LCNFC executive director. “It’s more than just these walls and ceiling. It’s about changing lives and giving people hope for a better tomorrow.”
That has got to add to the hands-on learning experience that the building trades students receive as they literally work from the ground up, preparing the site, framing the house, working in all phases of construction up to and including the finishing touches.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this homebuilding program, we should add that these students are pursuing a trade that will be very much in demand for years to come. The numbers vary, but a recent estimate from Freddie Mac said the United States has 3.8 million too few housing units.
Critically, lack of labor is often one of the big reasons for the shortfall in home construction. So students who are studying building trades will learn valuable skills that, if they choose, may provide solid income straight out of high school.
And judging by the most recent build, it looks like these young builders are doing a bang-up job.
