Other Articles

Since its founding in 1996, the Dartmouth College Chapter of Habitat for Humanity has, for the most part, simply supplied volunteers to our community affiliate, Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity. This summer, however, students have the opportunity to build a house on their own ­ the ’04 House.

Each summer, Dartmouth sophomores remain on campus while other classes leave to pursue internships, jobs, travelling, and other opportunities. Though the atmosphere on campus may be a bit more relaxed, the needs of the larger community do not disappear. Thus, the ’04 House, a Habitat for Humanity house begun by the Class of ’04 during their sophomore summer to address the critical need for affordable housing in the Upper Valley.

Originally the brainchild of Habitat Chairs Jen Ross ’03 and Christina LaMontagne ’03 during their own sophomore summer, the project was pushed forward by a number of students from the college chapter, one of more than fifty student-run community service organizations under the roof of the Tucker Foundation. Habitat’s volunteer pool had grown to well over seven hundred students, far exceeding the needs of the Upper Valley affiliate, and student leaders believed that Dartmouth had the resources to help local families in need and the responsibility to strengthen the bonds between the college and the community. In addition, the chapter viewed the construction of the ’04 House as an opportunity to raise awareness and better educate students about the lack of affordable housing in the Upper Valley.

Dartmouth Habitat volunteers take a break from construction.

Dartmouth Habitat continues to receive significant guidance and aid from Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity, however it is especially exciting for students to be a part of every aspect of the planning and building of the ’04 House. Fundraising has been done exclusively by the College chapter and the Tucker Foundation, and benefited from the generous donations of the Foundation’s Board of Visitors,“Tucker Friends,” the Byrne Foundation and the generous support of the families of the Class of 2004. To date we have raised more than half of the $85,000 required to complete the project.

The Family Selection Committee, a small board comprised of community members and Habitat homeowners who helped make the final choice of the family that would be lucky enough to receive a Habitat home, included students Mike Bober ’02, Jean-Paul Dedam ’02, and Fawn Draucker ’04. The process of obtaining permits and the search for a Site Supervisor were also carried out by Dartmouth students under the direction of members of Upper Valley Habitat. This summer, efforts of the chapter are being led by chair Li Jun Xian ’04, and helped along by Dartmouth Partners in Community Service intern Mike Bober ’02. In addition, the College itself has pledged help in the form of a donation of plumbing and electrical labor by the staff of the Facilities, Operations, and Management Department.

The house itself sits across the street from Mascoma Lake in Enfield, NH. It is the future home of Marlene DeNutte and her two children, Deven (6) and Morgan (4). Though a typical Habitat house takes six to eight months for completion, upon completion it will be a welcome change from the DeNuttes’ current housing situation.

More information can be found online at or by e-mailing us at