Women’s History Month, celebrated throughout March, is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build. This initiative empowers women to join the effort to provide housing to women in their community.
“Habitat’s Women Build volunteers come together from all walks of life to build stronger, safer communities, honoring Habitat’s mission to build homes, community and hope,” said Annie Fox, chief development officer for Habitat for Humanity of South Central New Jersey (SCNJ).
Women Build brings together the community and volunteers in an effort to address the challenges women often face with housing.
“Women and children make up the majority of people populating Habitat neighborhoods, and they are the most likely to be affected by poor living conditions,” Fox said. “Women Build events provide the opportunity for women to take a proactive step in serving their communities.”
Women Build construction sites are less intimidating than the typical Habitat for Humanity construction sites, resulting in greater participation by women. On these sites, women learn new skills that they can use to repair and maintain their home, Fox explained.
Habitat South Central New Jersey’s Women Build was held on March 8 in Cherry Hill on property donated by Cherry Hill Township.
“The property includes an existing home,” Fox said ahead of the build, “that will gain an addition and be rehabbed and readied as a new Habitat affordable home.”
Approximately 50 local volunteers participated in the Women Build event.
“Every volunteer has their own motivations but for this event specifically, it’s usually the desire to come together with fellow women for a day of empowerment, learning, and community building,” said Laura Van Booven, director of community engagement, Habitat for Humanity of SCNJ. “Volunteers are drawn from all backgrounds and all walks of life, including existing and future Habitat homeowners who are volunteering ‘sweat equity’ hours toward their new homes.”
More than 1,800 individuals volunteered on Habitat SCNJ’s build sites and in ReStore retail locations in the past year, Fox said.
Women Build events, which included writing letters of inspiration to future women homeowners, trivia night, and a day of service, took place from March 2-8.
“We are so invested in sharing our strengths with members of the community, and delighted to host these events during Women Build Week so that we may empower local women,” Fox said. “The impact of their participation will last beyond this week, and we are so pleased to team up with volunteers, partner families, and women from all walks of life as we continue our work of building homes, community, and hope.”
The Greater Middlesex & Morris (GMM) Habitat Women Build Event will take place from May 5-10 at two home build sites – Rockaway (in Morris County) and Perth Amboy (in Middlesex County), according to Terry-Ann Zander, vice president of marketing and communications for GMM Habitat for Humanity. “The unique opportunity highlights the ways that GMM Habitat empowers women to help build strength, stability and self-reliance for families in need.”
The Women Build program started in 1991 when a group of women in Charlotte, North Carolina, completed the first women-built Habitat for Humanity house. In 1998, Women Build was officially designated.
“Habitat Women Build teams have completed new homes, repairs and renovations in 650 communities in the U.S.,” Fox said. “More than 5,700 homes have benefited from the work of Women Build in the U.S.
“Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program manages, mobilizes, trains and empowers women. While men aren’t excluded, the program strives to create an inclusive and collaborative atmosphere specifically for women to help themselves and their neighbors improve their living conditions.”
Habitat for Humanity does not give away houses; instead, future homeowners partner with local affiliates and volunteers to build or rehabilitate a home and pay an affordable mortgage, according to the Habitat for Humanity website.
“Using professional and volunteer labor, Habitat builds single-family homes on land purchased from or donated by the community,” Fox said. “Eligible families and individuals demonstrate a need for housing, an ability to pay, and a willingness to partner.”
The Habitat for Humanity website lists the following steps to home ownership:
- Inquire
- Apply
- Interview
- Approve
- Participate
- Close
- Move in
“We’re excited to empower and inspire women to help Habitat homeowners realize their dreams of owning affordable homes,” said Liz DeCoursey, CEO for GMM Habitat for Humanity.
For more information about Habitat for Humanity of South Central New Jersey, visit https://www.habitatscnj.org/.
For more information about Greater Middlesex & Morris Habitat for Humanity, visit https://www.morrishabitat.org/mission.
Habitat South Central New Jersey’s Women Build was held on March 8 in Cherry Hill on property donated by Cherry Hill Township.
