Credit: CBS Boston

Students from MetroWest are putting their manual labor skills to good use by creating a new home for a veteran in need.

The students learned how to work with their hands in school and now the carpenters in training are building a “tiny house.” The house is under 600 square feet, but it’s just the right size for the homeless vet.

“It just feels good, knowing that you built something from the ground up,” sophomore Lucas Coelho Da Silva told CBS Boston.

These students from Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlboro, Massachusetts are gaining valuable skillsets both in and out of the classroom by helping to build the tiny house right inside their high school.

“Now since we have all the interior walls done, it’s great! We can see where what’s going to be what,” said junior Codey Daley.

Once the house is done, it will be trucked in one piece up to Maine. Thanks to a collaboration with Maine Seacoast Mission, the disabled veteran will be able to live comfortably in the new home.

“It completely warms my heart. It makes me so happy inside,” said sophomore Juliette Hughes.

The idea for the tiny house started out small – literally. It was written on a napkin a couple years ago and now it’s nearing completion. At less than 600 square feet, it has all the living essentials including a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and living room.

“This is the first of many. That’s our plan,” said Assabet Director of Technical Programs Russell P. Mangsen.

Construction started in May and continued this fall. Under the direction of 14 students, more than 125 students are working on the project. This includes everything from carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, painting, interior design and engineering programs.

“This is a controlled classroom where you’re learning all these skills. But the end game – that’s a house,” said Mangsen.

The target delivery date comes full circle with the goal being to have the house completed by Veteran’s Day.

“Building someone’s home, I mean, that feels pretty great,” said Coelho Da Silva.