Habitat’s Women Build Day 3

Today was the third day of the third annual South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build 2021.

Each day begins with volunteers arriving at 9am, being broken into groups and getting started on various projects assisted by construction staff members.

I am loving hearing the different conversations, it varies from the importance of applying for kindergarten ahead of time, to the benefits of creaky floors and our children living in different countries.

When I arrived on site today I realized something beautiful. There are four houses being built right now and the construction flooring today…is complete on all four houses.

The group photo from today is a special one because it will be the last house on the Lacey Habitat Homes property. Tomorrow it wont look like a foundation, next week it may get its walls. I am so giddy to see how this will all turn out!

What was it like being around people on Habitat Women Build Day 3?

Gosh I am just loving being around people. There is something so special about hearing and seeing conversations as opposed to just reading them online. Yes I understand the irony here, that I am writing online, but you get it.

Everybody spoke about how much they love seeing the houses in different stages of completion.

“This is awesome I’m having so much fun!”, said by several volunteers today.

Volunteers got to speak to someone from the NTPS today. During this conversation volunteers from The Junior League of Olympia got to hear her share the great impact in person schooling is having in the district. The passing rate on assignments has sky rocketed. Moms had what felt like a relief when they heard this today and mentioned how excited they are about this light at the end of the tunnel that seems to be slowly revealing itself.

She also shared the importance of applying for kindergarten ahead of time, not just showing up on the day. The district has to see how many people register so that they can plan accordingly for how many teachers and teacher aids need to be hired.

Where are the homeowners this year?

You will see in past year photos that home owners were part of the Habitat Women Build event but this year because of covid restrictions and the importance of bringing new people in to experience this event, homeowners are not with us this time.

I was able to hear a conversation today about a homeowner that did stop by and have a look at the progress being made. She got to see the sheeting going down, she stood on the floor of her new home and imagined where her new kitchen, her very own kitchen would be.

Think about that, think about how wonderful a feeling that must be. To be able to be there at the very start of an affordable homes foundation.

How did Habitat Women Build begin?

I got to hear Shawna explain this today which was great. It started in 1991 with three goals.

1. Fundraiser
2. Did you know women and children face the most obstacles with affordable housing? Habitat for Humanity needed to bring attention to what they are trying to achieve…affordable housing.
3. The majority of volunteers and construction staff for Habitat were men and it was time to open that up to women.

Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build wanted to change this. This event would be a great introduction to construction, home repair and ownership.

Is it working?

From my own observations yes!

Women volunteers for Habitat Women Build are gaining so much confidence in all the projects they are participating in.

Whether its learning:

• The significance of the red marks on a tape measurer. It’s the standard of where studs could be, hello, I am going to go hang things on the wall now.
• Learning the best way to open a ladder.
• Installing hardwood flooring. Everyone who participates in this considers redoing their own floor when they get home.
• How to install doorknobs. Learning that the side that has screws should be on the inside makes sense once you hear it because well…then people cant break into the house or room

The best part of today was seeing a staff member teach one volunteer how to do something then watching that volunteer teach the other volunteer. That’s empowerment right there.

This is just the end of day 3. Day 7 will bring a lot more information and observations of the impact of this event. I hope to share more soon! See you next Wednesday for day 4.

You can check out my first post on this awesome event here and you will also find links on this page about how you can get involved.