Annual Event Puts A ‘Woman’s Touch’ on New Home

Habitat Chicago Homebuyer Alleania Powers and brother stand in front of a newly finished home; Alleania will be a new neighbor of Women Build home buyer Catherine Goins.
Habitat Chicago Homebuyer Alleania Powers and brother stand in front of a newly finished home; Alleania will be a new neighbor of Women Build home buyer Catherine Goins.

Annual Event Puts A ‘Woman’s Touch’ on New Home

By Monique Smith

Habitat for Humanity Chicago recently held its 4th annual Women Build that brings together 300 female volunteers over the course of five days to help fund and begin construction on a new home. The effort included 300 women touching up the walls, roof, deck and floors of a new home at 11933 South Union Ave. in the West Pullman neighborhood. The actual build site consisted of 60 women working side by- side with the home buyer. These women were tasked with building the exterior wall framing, exterior painting and siding for the homes.

Catherine Goins is a Habit Homebuyer who worked alongside these other volunteers to build her own home. According to the Habitat for Humanity Chicago Executive Director Jennifer Parks, the criteria for becoming a Habitat homeowner is simple.

“There are three basic criteria you must meet in showing you have a need based on economics or unsafe living conditions, ability to pay the mortgage on the home and a willingness to put in sweat equity by volunteering to build the home and work on other homes for neighbors in the community,” Goins said.

Habitat for Humanity has been in existence for a year, but originally started as Habitat for Humanity International in 1976, founded by Millard and Linda Fuller. According to Habitat.org, the concept that grew into

Habitat for Humanity International was born at Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial, Christian community outside of Americus, Georgia. Koinonia Farm was founded in 1942 by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan. The Fullers first visited Koinonia in 1965. They had recently left a successful business and an affluent lifestyle in Montgomery, Alabama to begin a new life of Christian service. At Koinonia, Jordan and Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing.” The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses. The houses would be built at no profit and interest would not be charged on the loans. Building costs would be financed by a revolving fund called “The Fund for Humanity.” The fund’s money would come from the new homeowners’ house payments, no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fund-raising activities. The monies in the Fund for Humanity would be used to build more houses. In 1968, Koinonia laid out 42 half-acre house sites with four acres reserved as a community park and recreational area. Capital was donated from around the country to start the work. Homes were built and sold to families in need at no profit and no interest. The basic model of Habitat for Humanity was begun.

Today, through the work of Habitat, thousands of low-income families have found new hope in the form of affordable housing. Churches, community groups and others have joined together to successfully tackle a significant social problem, decent housing for all.

Habitat Chicago works to preserve and implement the Habitat for Humanity principal locally by strengthening families and enhancing communities in Chicago. Since 1976, Habitat has helped 6.8 million people find strength, stability and independence through safe, decent and affordable shelter.

For more information on volunteering or becoming a Habitat homeowner visit, www.habitatchicago. org

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