Women Build encourages female involvement

Women taking part in the Habitat for Humanity build in Belleville. File photo by Candice-Rose Gagnon

By Emilie Quesnel

BELLEVILLE – Women in the Belleville area are strapping on their toolbelts for this week’s Women Build Fundraiser.

The fundraiser is an initiative with Prince Edward-Hastings’ Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization that works to provide deserving families with good homes.

Women Build is meant to encourage female involvement as well as to bring in donations for the cause. This week’s Women Build went from Oct. 5 to Oct. 9. Women who participate are asked to bring a $50 donation or $100 in pledges.

The event started when Habitat for Humanity noticed a significant lack of women participating in the physical aspects of building the homes and hoped to change this. This opportunity also serves as a chance for those involved to learn valuable skills.

Women make up approximately half of Prince Edward-Hastings’ Habitat work force. Of those actually building the homes, less than a quarter of the workers are female. Habitat is welcoming women of all ages and physical ability or skills.

There are two houses on the go right now, one of which is anticipated to be completed this December. The homes are located at 125 and 151 Golfdale Road, Belleville.

Sarah Hyatt, a spokesperson for Prince Edward-Hastings Habitat for Humanity, said that “a family is supposed to be in a home by Christmas time,” while the other family is slated to move in for January 2016.

Prince Edward-Hastings Habitat is building more homes this year than ever before. Four local families will receive houses.

Every Wednesday second-year students from Loyalist College’s Construction and Renovation Trades program help construction crews on site. This is part of a partnership between Loyalist College and Habitat for Humanity.

“The builders are volunteers from the community. Some days are held for Women, some for Loyalist, others for corporate team building days and ultimately others are staffed with people from the public that want to help a family own a home,” said Bob Clute, executive director of Habitat for Humanity in Prince Edward-Hastings.

If you are interested in contributing to this cause, visit here or call 613-962-7526.