Habitat For Humanity is building with innovation in Albuquerque

The sounds of power tools buzzing and droning in the early morning hours would be an annoyance for most, but for Bob Rieden, it’s just another day on the work site.

That should come as no surprise; he has been volunteering for Habitat for Humanity for the past 20 years.

A member of the special assignment team, Rieden, a former Sandia Labs employee, said he’s worked alongside people from different backgrounds and walks of life with Habitat For Humanity. The nonprofit works with families, the local community and volunteers to build safe and affordable housing.

“I think maybe about five or 10 of them are from Sandia Labs, engineering background, we’ve had doctors and dentists, you name it,” Rieden said of his fellow volunteers.

At 82, Rieden was one of the more active members building six new Habitat homes in the 100 block of Cilfton block in the Barelas neighborhood early Wednesday. These new homes are a first-of-their-kind design for Habitat in Albuquerque, built using insulated concrete forms, or ICFs.

The ICFs, or “blocks” as they were referred to by the builders, are used to build the homes’ walls and frame, in place of a more traditional wooden frame. Blocks are made of two foam pieces held together by plastic brackets. A gap between the two foam pieces allows for pieces of reinforced rebar to run between to strengthen the structure’s foundation.

The blocks are used in construction much like Lego blocks, stacking next to each other and one on top of another. Then concrete is poured between the gaps in the blocks to help with insulation.

The final design is what Pete Hosenfeld says is similar to what one might see in structures the North or South poles.

“We’re going to make an igloo cooler,” he said. “This house is going to be so tight, that we have to pump in fresh air.”

Hosenfeld has worked as a paid member for Habitat for Humanity for seven and a half years. Prior to that he was a volunteer with the organization for 10 years. He got into Habitat because of his father, who worked with the organization for 30 years.

Joining the usual volunteers and Habitat workers Wednesday were 12 individuals from First Financial Credit Union .

“(Employees) really enjoy going out and doing community events,” said Karen Ortiz, the chief operations officer for First Financial. “It gives us a chance to meet other people and tell them about First Financial.”

Ortiz credited Raquel Whitlock, one of the credit union’s branch managers, as the one responsible for connecting them with Habitat For Humanity.

Whitlock, who was one of the First Financial employees working Wednesday, said it was good to see not just her credit union but other organizations volunteering their time for causes like this.

“It’s nice to see that there’s so many other volunteers here. It’s not just us. That tells me that we in Albuquerque really care about our community”, she said.

The credit union volunteers spent their morning climbing ladders, painting and taping seals in the frames, windows and doors of three houses.

First Financial employee Alyssa Case said volunteering is both educational and fulfilling.

“I’m learning a lot; I’m having fun. I would say it’s humbling because you sit back and you just live in a house and it’s there, and to actually be able to put some sweat equity into someone else’s home is very rewarding,” she said.

The volunteers aren’t the ones only putting sweat equity into the construction of these homes. The soon-to-be occupants are as well.

The six families applied with Habitat For Humanity and were selected based on three criteria — level of need, willingness to partner with Habitat and ability to repay a mortgage through an affordable payment plan.

The mortgage plan they agree to is a 0% interest rate, according to Hosenfeld, which makes the ability to own the home affordable, but they also must show the willingness to put in the work beyond just building the house.

“They have to learn how to upkeep their houses, learn who their neighbors are. It’s not a handout, it’s a step up because they have a mortgage, they pay utility bills,” he said.

There is currently no date set for when the first family can expect to move in, but three homes are standing and a concrete slab has been poured for a fourth.

And there’s a chance some of the First Financial volunteers might be back to continue working on the project, like Stormy Johnson, senior vice president of branch operations.

“I think by sharing the experience with others, I would think family, other coworkers at First Financial, bring them back, get them involved and share the experience,” she said.