BY: JOSH HACHAT (NewarkAdvocate.com) — NEWARK — Jeff Uhlenhake penciled in this weekend as a rare chance to return to Newark to visit family before things got hectic at Ohio State.
The OSU assistant strength coach also got a fulfilling start to the weekend.

Uhlenhake, a Newark Catholic graduate who also played for the Buckeyes and three NFL teams, spent Saturday morning helping build a house in Newark with the Licking County chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

The project at 106 Penney Ave. started in April, and Uhlenhake was among 20 volunteers who gave their time Saturday.

“I work with people every day, and here I get to take the time to help a family that can really benefit from this,” Uhlenhake said. “It’s a safe place, and you know you’ve helped them. It feels good to get back to your hometown and give back.”

Sarah Oneson, the executive director for the Licking County chapter, got in touch with Uhlenhake several months ago, and it was simply a matter of finding the right date in Uhlenhake’s busy schedule.

That day came Saturday, and Oneson said it was well worth it.

“We were looking for people like Jeff to come out because it gives kids a chance to have someone to look up to,” Oneson said. “I’m so honored he came out here.”

Of the 20 volunteers, several were current Newark Catholic and Granville students.

The home is scheduled to be completed by the end of September, which is when Newark resident Kristina Bailey and her two children (Trevor Collins, 15, and Dustina Craig, 12) are awaiting moving in.

“I’m thrilled,” Bailey said. “I try to be here as much as I can. I just can’t wait to get in. I’m working for something, and this is going to be ours.”

Bailey met Oneson in January 2008 and filled out an application to be considered for a new home. She was approved in May and construction on the 1,344-square-foot house started April 21.

Within six weeks, the frame was on the three bedroom, 1 1/2 bathroom house.

The site was an empty lot after the previous house burned down several years ago.
The house will cost almost $80,000 to build, and Michael Firestone, vice president of the Licking County chapter of HFH, said it would appraise for around $115,000.
After getting approved to move in after the interview process, Bailey agreed to spend at least 350 hours working on the house.

Once she and her family moves in, Bailey will take out a 20-year, interest-free mortgage, and her monthly payments to HFH will be around $325.

That is significantly cheaper than the $700 she spends on rent each month for a three-bedroom apartment.

“We build affordable homes for families that normally wouldn’t qualify for normal financing,” Firestone said. “To me, there’s nothing greater than offering housing for someone that can’t afford it. There’s so many families living in substandard housing, and we want to get them out of it.”

Al Smail, a Heath graduate who is the project supervisor for HFH, said the amount of volunteers — who normally work Wednesdays and Saturdays — has allowed the project to advance in a timely fashion.

“The volunteers have been good and steady,” Smail said. “I feel good about building things, and this is a great cause.”

The main project Saturday was installing all the windows and doors, something Uhlenhake joked he never had done before.

But he also took time to laud the work of the Licking County chapter of HFH, which builds an average of two houses per year and will begin its next project in September at 144 E. Main St. in Newark.

“People here on a daily basis putting in their time — that’s what it’s all about,” Uhlenhake said. “They put their heart and soul into this.

“They’re the ones that should get noticed, and the kids working here should take pride in doing this. They’re learning at an early age to give back.”

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