Daimler volunteers build York County Habitat home inside convention center

More than 150 Daimler Trucks North America employees teamed up with Habitat for Humanity of York County on Thursday to frame up walls, floor joists, roof trusses, windows and door openings.

And they did it all – every aspect of work that takes place on an active Habitat construction site – within the cavernous confines of the Charlotte Convention Center.

Habitat works with low-income families to help them realize the American dream of owning a home.

The stringent qualification process considers three factors: a family’s verifiable need, their willingness to provide 250 volunteer hours of sweat equity on their home, and income sufficient to pay the monthly mortgage, taxes and insurance.

Habitat homes, which usually run about 1,100-1,300 square feet, are built to earn an Energy Star rating, helping nearly all families pay less for housing costs compared to renting. That savings allows them to spend more on food and clothing for their children.

This year Habitat for Humanity of York County will help 28 families. To date, Habitat has partnered with 81 families through new home construction, rehabilitation and preservation projects. To learn more, go to yorkcountyhabitat.org.

This story was originally published May 21, 2015 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Daimler volunteers build York County Habitat home inside convention center."