Habitat for Humanity is sponsoring the poverty simulation Shantytown from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 3, at the Pioneer Student Center.

The UW-Platteville chapter is hoping to raise $1,000 towards building a house in Grant County, Megan Klemm, UW-Platteville Habitat for Humanity secretary, said. Ten organizations are expected to participate by building a house out of a cardboard box and asking for donations.

“This year we’re going to try to have a contest and the groups have to make their boxes look the most like a house,” Rachel Stopple, UW-P Habitat president, said.

Anyone can vote for the best looking cardboard house at the tables outside the west entrance of the Pioneer Student Center. The winning organization receives half the proceeds it raises, however, for past events, the organization donates the money back to Habitat for Humanity, Klemm said.

“Three people from Habitat for Humanity will be outside the student center to answer questions about the organization and to sell T-shirts for $7,” said Klemm.

One question some supporters have is where the money goes and how it is used. Grant County Habitat for Humanity director April Baker said it goes toward a project in Lancaster called a women’s build, where only women participate in the construction. Also, a home in Benton will be built. Since volunteers do the labor, it takes about $72,000 and seven months to build one house. The total includes the cost of the lot and materials.

The Grant County Habitat for Humanity chapter allied with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Thrivent Financial, a non-profit Fortune 500 Company, plans to donate over $60,000 to the Grant County organization, Baker said.

“Instead of advertising, we put that money into the communities in which we work,” Thrivent financial consultant Joseph Watson said.

“Because of this financial base we have the cash for professional labor,” Baker said. “The major concerns when building any house are the four skilled labor areas: foundation, electrical, heating and plumbing.”

The alliance with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans helps Habitat for Humanity spend more time on recruiting people to help build on the homes. It also makes it easier to set the initial plans in motion, said Baker.

Information about how to help on a Habitat for Humanity build will be available at the Shantytown tables on April 3 outside the PSC or by e-mailing the organization at grantcountyhabitat@yahoo.com.