Safe, stable housing is often considered a cornerstone of public health, a metaphor that resonates with Pitt Public Health research administrator Scott Szypulski. Each spring, he trades his desk for a Habitat for Humanity housing site, spending a week with Pitt students and alumni helping construct the walls, frames and foundations that give families a secure place to live.
Szypulski’s connection to Habitat began in 2012 as an undergraduate at Pitt–Greensburg. A roommate invited him on a spring break service trip to North Carolina. At first, he hesitated and wondered if giving up his break was worth it. In the end, he hopped into the van, headed to the site, and never looked back.
What keeps him coming back is not just the hands-on work—he has framed, roofed, measured and installed siding. More important is meeting the families whose homes he helps build. Habitat’s “sweat equity” model, which asks future homeowners to contribute hours on-site or in ReStore thrift shops, makes the work personal. “You really see who you are helping,” he said. “It is meaningful to know exactly where your time is going.”
Over the years, Szypulski has worked with Habitat affiliates across the country, sometimes arriving at the start of a project, sometimes near completion. He has painted ReStores, organized donations, repaired shelving and even built birdhouses for raising funds. “You never know what you will be doing,” he said. “That is what makes it fun.”
Most trips have been through Pitt–Greensburg’s campus chapter in Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge. Students, alumni and chaperones travel together and stay in simple housing such as church basements, community centers or even ReStore back rooms. These arrangements keep costs focused on building homes rather than lodging.
For Szypulski, the shared living space adds to the experience. “You spend all day at the work site and all night in the same space,” he said. “You really get to know people.” Some of his closest friendships began on Habitat trips, and he still keeps in touch with students he once chaperoned.
This year, he returned as both volunteer and alum, revisiting a site he first worked on as a student, making the experience especially meaningful.
In his role in the Department of Human Genetics, Szypulski focuses on grants and research support. Habitat offers a different connection to the University community, with time spent with students, mentoring opportunities, and the chance to contribute directly to a healthier society.
“For me, a week on a build site is a small thing,” he said. “For a family, it becomes part of a foundation for a safer and healthier life. That is why I keep going back.”
Full-time University of Pittsburgh staff are eligible for one day of paid volunteer time per year. Learn more at Volunteer and Professional Development Time Guidelines | Human Resources | University of Pittsburgh.
-Clare Collins
