On the Construction Site
Women take charge with Habitat for Humanity’s home-building program
Pat Benner, retired elementary school principal, spends her free time unlike many other golfing and shelling retirees in Florida. She volunteers doing what she has never done before: being the site supervisor at a home rehabilitation in San Carlos Park. Benner isn’t the only woman stepping out of her comfort zone at the site, though. More than 300 women kicked off their heels, left their housewife-self at home, put on closed-toed shoes and picked up construction tools to work on two homes for families, in two weeks during the Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program. They also raised more than $110,000 to cover the renovation expenses.
Benner has been volunteering for Habitat for 10 years, and this is the fifth home she has worked on to help families in need. “A lot of the economically depressed families move from home to home, which is a huge interruption in children’s education,” she said. “Knowing the importance of a permanent home for a child, education-wise, really drew me to help.”
There was everything a construction site could ask for: clanking tools, white-dust covered floors and materials stacked in every corner. However, the cutting of baseboards and the caulking of walls and flooring were all done by women (with some men supervising here and there).
The Women Build program’s purpose is to raise funds and get women involved in affordable housing in their community, said Cheryl Garn, vice president of Community Outreach at Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties.
For the third year, Chico’s FAS has been the title sponsor of Women Build and has been bringing more volunteers each year to help, said Pam Avesian, vice president of internal audit for Chico’s FAS and a Habitat board member, who is also a dedicated helping hand at the site.
Garn says that in order for families to be considered for a home, they must have the need, qualify financially, save $1,700 toward closing costs, attend classes focusing on homeownership, budgeting and maintenance, and complete 300 hours of volunteer “sweat equity” with Habitat.
There are four families interested in this home, and by the time Habitat’s Family Selection Committee makes its decision, it will be move-in ready.
THE WOMEN BUILD PROGRAM’S PURPOSE IS TO RAISE FUNDS AND GET WOMEN INVOLVED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THEIR COMMUNITY.