Construction of Portage's eleventh Habitat for Humanity build began in earnest Saturday morning, with a blitz on 9th Street Northeast.

Volunteers spent the day working on things like framing. Brent Froese leads the construction team, and says it's a good feeling to see it under way.

Brent Froese"It's a beautiful day, we've got a great crew of people here," he says. "There's a really strong sense of community -- people are working together, and enjoying each other's company, and the progress we're making, so it's a great thing."

Froese acknowledges there's still some misunderstanding about how Habitat works, stressing they're not giving the house away.

"They actually make a mortgage payment, like everyone else," he says, "What we're doing here now is kind of like the down payment. So the homeowner puts in 500 hours of their own time. The community steps in and helps to support, and we end up with the house built under the regular retail price, and gives them a good start on the road to home ownership."

The house should be completed by September.

The crew at work on Saturday