Ashley Miller

Adam Jenks was one of three students who spent Wednesday night on campus in a self-made cardboard house.

The house was part of Act! Speak! Build! Week, an international student activism movement through Habitat for Humanity. Jenks’ “home” was constructed in Central Park, near the Charles V. Park Library.

The house remained on campus Thursday, along with a booth providing more information about the CMU Habitat for Humanity chapter.

“(The stand) was to get people thinking about our project,” said Jenks, a Marshall senior.

Temperatures dropped below freezing in the early morning hours of Thursday, reaching 30 degrees around 6 a.m. according to the National Weather Service.

Along with information, the stand also had a raffle.

“We’ve had quite a few entries for the raffle,” said Rhonda Nieman, a Houghton Lake Heights senior.

A few passersby were not sure what to make of the house, but the majority of them were supportive, she said.

One-third of the nation has financial problems with housing. They group hoped to raise awareness about this issue by camping out and providing information, said Veronica Sheppard, an Augusta sophomore.

“We’re trying to get people thinking about the fact that so many homeless people are out there,” Sheppard said.

Seven members took shifts throughout Tuesday night and yesterday. Supplies to build the house were donated by members.

Group members worked on a house this fall alongside the Isabella County Habitat for Humanity, and are looking forward to a new house project soon.

Habitat for Humanity is an international organization with more than 90 participating countries. Michigan’s Habitat for Humanity is based out of Lansing and works with 75 different affiliate groups.

Students interested in more information may contact CMU Habitat for Humanity at cmu.habitat@gmail.com, or may attend their next meeting on April 16 at 6 p.m. at the Down Under Food Court in the Bovee University Center.

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E-mail the author: Hilary Farrell