PITTSBURGH, PA — An army of volunteers recently went to work on the “blitz building” of two homes in just five days. It was the culmination of efforts by five local partners to provide attractive, affordable homes in this city’s Hill District, and, in turn, enhance the community. The partners dubbed the project “Hammers, Hearts, and Hope on the Hill.”

Hosanna Industries, a faith-based nonprofit ministry that builds and renovates homes for low-income families and individuals, has carried out the blitz build process more than 80 times since its inception in 1990. The two-story Hill District homes are based on the architectural designs of Stefani Danes and Tom Pearce of Perkins Eastman Architects, who donated their services. Danes and Pearce designed the homes to complement the existing architecture in the historic Hill District.

Three other organizations round out the partnership, which has been working together for a year. Jaxon Development Co. donated planning and development services to oversee the preparation of the property. Macedonia Church, which owned the land that the two homes are being built upon, identified qualified homeowners and helped build community support. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh provided a $30,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant and additional donated funding, as well as time off for employees wishing to volunteer during the blitz.

Additional support, both financial and in-kind, has been provided by a number of organizations, including Limbach Heating and Cooling, White Heating and Cooling, and The Trane Company.

Publication date: 06/10/2002