Paterson Habitat for Humanity promotes National Women Build Week | Paterson Times Paterson Times

Paterson Habitat for Humanity promotes National Women Build Week

By Jonathan Greene
Published: May 16, 2014

Habitat-for-Humanity-women-build

About two dozen volunteers, mostly women got together to commemorate National Women Build Week at a Habitat for Humanity construction site in the city last Friday.

Paterson Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit, put on the program with the help of Lowe’s, a construction supply company, and Julie Edelman (3rd person on the back row), the Accidental Housewife. In its seventh year, the program encourages women to volunteer a day, between May 3rd to 11th, to help build affordable housing in local communities.

The week highlights the challenges women face in obtaining housing for their families. “I’m humbled and privileged to be a part of this incredible initiative putting hammer to nail, side by side local volunteers and Lowe’s to help build better lives and affordable housing for women whom so richly deserve it,” said Edelman.

Working with 20 women and employees from the company, Edelman played her part in building walls that will be used to construct a Habitat home in the city. Employees from the company guided the volunteers how to go about constructing the walls.

In 2008, the company helped the non-profit launch its build week for women. “As part of National Women Build Week, we’re encouraging women across America to raise a hammer to help create safe and affordable housing in partnership with local families,” said Joan Higginbotham, spokesperson for the company.

The non-profit estimates lack of housing using poverty estimates provided by the national census. The organization estimates there are 16.1 million children who live in poverty in the United States. Out of that number 24-percent of those children live in households headed by women.

“In Paterson more than 50% of families are in need of affordable housing,” according to a news release issued by the non-profit.

The non-profit will receive a $5,000 store gift card from the company to buy supplies to build homes in the city.


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