Richmond Habitat for Humanity wants to sign up 300 local women to help build two homes in the Richmond
More than 300 local women and a dozen local companies will join together to build two homes in the Chestnut Hills neighborhood in the City of Richmond through Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build initiative. Women Build brings women together to volunteer and fundraise the construction of a home each year, while also raising awareness of housing issues facing women and their families. This will be Richmond Habitat’s largest Women Build yet, with women taking on the construction of two homes.
“Almost all of our homebuyers are women – many of whom are single-mothers striving to give their children a safe place to call their own. We are always looking for ways to encourage local women to get out and build with us and help change the lives of the women we serve – women helping women,” says Whitney Guthrie, Director of Community Engagement at Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity, “Women Build is a perfect way to empower local women to get involved and increase access to affordable homeownership opportunities.”
More than 18 million U.S. households spend half or more of their income on a place to live, and almost 31% of women-headed households with children are below the poverty level.
In the greater Richmond area, one in seven families must choose between having a place to call home and paying for food, health care, childcare, education or reliable transportation. Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity is calling on women across the region to help bring attention to this important issue by raising a hammer and building homes for two local families.
Through Richmond Habitat’s program, local families and individuals are able to purchase a home and pay an affordable, zero percent interest mortgage, making the dream of homeownership a reality. The average monthly mortgage payment for Richmond Habitat’s homeowners is $600 each month.
The future homebuyers for these two homes are also women, meaning that women will truly be helping other women through this effort. One of the homebuyers is a single-mother and current resident of public housing. She is excited to purchase a home that will allow her to build generational wealth for her children. The second homebuyer is visually impaired and her home will require modifications that will allow for her to live safely and comfortably in her new home.
Prior to purchasing their homes, the two homebuyers will complete 10 homeownership and financial education classes, monthly-one-on one budgeting sessions, and 350 hours of sweat equity helping to build their homes and the homes of other future homeowners. This ensures that homebuyers have the tools they need to be successful.
Richmond Habitat’s Women Build will take place from August until December of 2021. Richmond Habitat is in need of volunteers and sponsors to help make this build a success. For more information and to register, visit RichmondHabitat.org.
