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Four metro-area contractors and numerous subcontractors later this month will donate labor and materials for Habitat for Humanity‘s Home Builders Blitz in Southeast Portland.

The construction process – from framework to insulation to cabinets and countertops – for four homes will be accelerated from a couple of months to about a couple of weeks, according to Jeff Fish, owner of participating contractor Fish Construction NW. Neil Kelly, Noyes Development Co. and Schumacher Custom Homes also will construct homes as part of the event from May 28 to June 13.

Parr Lumber Co. is donating materials, according to Habitat for Humanity.

“The whole process should take about two weeks,” Fish said. “We’ll hand them the keys June 13.”

Two years ago, Fish worked during Home Builders Blitz on a home for a family of African refugees who had spent seven years in camps. They contributed up to 500 hours of “sweat equity” by sweeping around the jobsite and keeping it clean, he said. Habitat for Humanity families make monthly payments on the 0 percent mortgage, which includes taxes, insurance and principal.

“It’s a good project helping people trying to help themselves,” he said. “It’s not a giveaway. They end up buying the home.”

Each home, on Southeast 171st Avenue near Grant Street, will be built to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, said Sasha Davis, director of communications for Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East. One of the homes will be built to accommodate a disabled man who uses a wheelchair, she said.

Three of the homes will go to Burmese refugees and one will go to a low-income American family, Davis said.

“These are really busy builders taking out more than two weeks of their time, which is huge,” she said. “They are reaching out to all their contacts to get the homes built as well.”

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