Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County Women Build

TRANSFORMING TRAJECTORIES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH HOMEOWNERSHIP

By Jane K. Asher, Ph.D.

For the past 25 years, Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County has coupled its hyper-local focus with world vision to engage donors, homeowners, neighbors and volunteers to work together to build better living environments. As a result, Habitat Oakland County along with the Oakland County Women Build Team — its largest non-corporate partner — has helped over 600 people on their journey toward homeownership.

In 2014, Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County launched the Women Build Team through the leadership of Johnna Struck, owner of Changing Places Moving Co., and now, in its seventh year, the Oakland County Women Build Team has grown to more than 55 women. Each year, through fundraising events, sponsorship, donations and volunteering at the build site, team members build or rehab a home in partnership with the family who will own the home through an affordable mortgage.

“The Women Build Team is successful because The Team can get involved as much or as little as they want,” said Dena Vatalaro, major gifts officer for Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County. “More so, The Team gets to meet and work alongside the homebuyer as they put in ‘sweat equity’ toward their future home — the most fulfilling and rewarding aspect of being a part of our organization is personally knowing the homebuyers through their journey to homeownership and seeing them develop pride in ownership.”

Doreen Marquis, the organization’s first homeowner, has said that becoming a Habitat Oakland County homeowner changed the trajectory of her family forever. She was able to send all three of her children to college and secure a brighter future for each of them.

“The success of Doreen’s family — and other partner families like hers — demonstrates the impact homeownership has on individuals,” Dena said. “Those of us so deeply committed to Habitat for Humanity’s mission are particularly mindful of families for whom the recent sheltering in place exacerbates conditions with which they have struggled for so long.” These conditions include residing in houses that are already not healthy because of leaks or mold, overcrowded living arrangements because the only way to afford rent or save up money is for extended family to stay together in a too-small space, living in homes without easy access to water, and residing in spaces merely just for shelter.

“Even before COVID-19 became the nearly singular topic of conversation and news coverage, we were facing an undeniable housing crisis, with more than 18 million American families paying half or more of their income on their housing costs — the pandemic only exacerbates this challenge,” Dena said. “The low-to-moderate-income community who we serve often works in retail or hourly jobs and are facing serious income reductions which will make it harder for them to afford home repairs. They may be neglecting work in the home that is a safety hazard so they can shift resources for food and medicine.”

Habitat Oakland’s Rock the Block program aims to alleviate some of these challenges and assist families who are struggling during this difficult time. Through corporate, faith and community sponsorship for the organization’s neighborhood revitalization effort, Rock the Block brings dozens of volunteers together to perform minor exterior home repair for low-to-moderate-income homeowners in target neighborhoods in Pontiac and Southfield.

Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that is not supported by Habitat International and relies on the businesses and residents of Oakland County for support. One of the ways that the organization receives community support is through Habitat ReStores of Oakland County — located in Waterford and Farmington Hills — which are proudly owned and operated by Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County with proceeds used to build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. Habitat ReStores are a great place to shop and to refer clients to donate household or industrial items — pick up is available by calling the Restore donation pick-up call line at 248-365-4090.

You can also support Habitat Oakland by joining or sponsoring the Women Build Team and becoming a part of the amazing group of people who are building a new construction in 2020.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County and Women Build, visit habitatoakland.org or contact Dena Vatalaro at 248-321-9649 or denav@habitatoakland.org.

Women Build - Charity Spotlight