Habitat NOVA participates in National Women Build Week 2012. An key initiative of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program, the fifth annual National Women Build Week, sponsored by Lowe’s, challenges women to devote at least one day between May 5 – 13 to the effort of creating affordable housing.
Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program, recruits, educates and inspires women to build—and advocate for—simple, decent and affordable houses in their communities.
This year’s theme, “The Build Generation,” reflects Habitat Women Build’s goal to recruit and train women volunteers, as well as welcome the next generation of Habitat Women Builders – young women, ages 18-24 – to help support Habitat’s mission to create affordable housing.
Women have the capability and determination necessary to build Habitat for Humanity houses, addressing the problem of substandard housing in a concrete way so that families have safe, decent and affordable homes.
Poverty housing is a severe threat to children’s health, growth and potential. According to the Census Bureau, in the United States more than 12 million children—one out of every six—is living in poverty.
Women volunteers boost Habitat’s capacity to build more houses and serve more families. More than 1,900 Women Build houses have been built since the program began in 1998.
Lowe’s is a national partner with Habitat for Humanity International. By 2013, Lowe’s will have contributed nearly $40 million to Habitat’s work, as well as in-store how-to clinics and volunteer labor.
Lowe’s is providing a $5,000 grants, as well as an in-store how-to clinic to train women volunteers in support of a local one-day Women Build.
Women Build is not about excluding men, it’s about including women so they can learn construction skills on a more inclusive construction site. More than 1,900 homes have been built by women crews in the United States, as well as in dozens of countries around the world.
ARLINGTON, Va. (WUSA) – Construction is typically a male-dominated industry, but a group of women took over a construction site in Arlington on Wednesday as part of National Women Build Week.
“We feel united and strong. We can do anything. We are women!” said Susan Omasta, a Habitat for Humanity volunteer.
Omasta isn’t shy when it comes to recruiting women for Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build Program, but this is actually her first time working on a construction site.
“I work in retail,” said Omasta.
On Wednesday, Omasta and about 30 other women got their hands dirty helping build affordable housing for low-income families.
“We’re putting up insulation today,” said Omasta. “It gets in your face, in your eyes, but guess what? At the end of the day it washes away, and you’ve done something really great that you’re proud of.”
When the building is complete, it will house twelve different families. One of them is the Moldanado family.
“I am happy for this day. Many, many women help me,” said Rosie Moldanado, who also pitched in.
“This is really great because the satisfaction that you get from knowing that someone is going to benefit from your hard work. It’s so exciting,” said Omasta.
More than 1,650 Habitat for Humanity Homes in the United States have been built by female construction crews.
“People need to know that women can do this too,” said Omasta. “Just do it. Do it for yourself. Do it for your children. You’re strong and you can get out there and do what any of the guys can do.”
Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia says they hope to break ground in one year on a new home which will be built entirely by women.
Alice Waagen is wearing a hard hat and a tool belt and she’s covered in dust from the demolition work she is doing at the Perry Hall Condominium, the Habitat for Humanity 12-unit building on South 17th Street in Arlington. The construction project is an existing apartment building that will be converted to condominiums.
Waagen is taking part in National Women Build Week (May 1-9), an initiative by Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity which challenges women to devote at least one day to efforts to eliminate poverty housing. This is the first Women Build event for Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia.
