The Cardinal

Women Build a Better World

A dream comes true for an SVC student and her family.

Leslie Spangler
Staff Writer

Women Build: Skagit Habitat for Humanity is building a home in Sedro-Woolley. Habitat for Humanity International is a well-known organization that was established in 1976.  It was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller of Southwest Georgia because of their strong desire to address issues of poverty housing. Women Build was founded in 2007, according to Women Build board member, Carla Tucker.  Women Build creates an opportunity for women (16 years or older), who share a passion for eliminating poverty housing and homelessness, to take action and learn new skills.  Women Build is currently building their first home, a 4 bedroom, 1 bathroom house for SVC student, Belen Martinez and her 4 children (ages 5, 8, 11, & 13) in Sedro-Woolley.  Martinez has worked very hard to accomplish this dream.  She works full-time, attends SVC to earn her degree in business, raises her four children, and has completed more than her required 500 hours of sweat equity.

Women are invited to show up every Friday and Saturday any time between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Home building skills are helpful, but not necessary.  Volunteers are trained on site.  The only requirements are to be physically capable, have a willing spirit, and know your limits.  First time volunteers are required to watch a 10 minute safety video before starting work and must sign a release form.  With those tasks out of the way, site coordinators and/or leads will be on hand to show volunteers the ropes.  The first order of business is to get set up with tools and safety gear.  Supply trailers are located at the edge of the construction site.  Volunteers are issued tool belts, goggles, a hard hat if needed, and tools for the assigned jobs.  Women can expect to be asked to do any number of jobs:  pouring foundation, framing, tiling, roofing, painting, dry walling, hanging cabinets, insulation, window installation, hanging doors, etc.  Plumbing and electrical are taken care of by professionals who donate their time or offer discounted rates.
Volunteering for Women Build is a great opportunity for women to work together on a satisfying project, and potentially, gain skills that could prove invaluable to them.  My 17 year old daughter, Jessie Spangler and I volunteered for the first time with Women Build in September.  Jessie really enjoyed the experience and plans to return for weekends to come.  “Everyone was really supportive”, says Jessie.  “If you didn’t understand something, someone would explain it to you.  I was more comfortable working with a group of women.”

Carol Tjeerdsma, the site coordinator, says the experience of building a home with other women has been “Absolutely wonderful!”  To encourage women who might feel intimidated about building a house she says, “This house is sewing, just a lot bigger.”  Women Build has set a goal to finish this house by the end of November with a dedication ceremony by mid-December.  Help is still needed to accomplish this goal and make it possible for Martinez and her children to have a home of their own by Christmas.
Volunteering for Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful opportunity for college and high school students.  Involvement looks great on university applications and resumes, plus volunteers gain skills while helping others in need.  It’s an all-around, win-win situation.  Fortunately, right next door to the Women Build house is another Habitat house in its early stages and two more will go up after that.  These projects also need volunteers: men and/or women.
Habitat for Humanity is a Christian-based, non-discriminatory organization that helps and welcomes people of all faiths or no faith. The organization holds the belief that God’s love extends to everyone.  One of the myths about this program is that the house and property are given to the occupants.  The truth is ‘partner families’ accepted into the program will pay a minimal down-payment, and obtain a no interest mortgage carried by Habitat for Humanity.  Partner families must also agree to donate hundreds of hours of personal time (sweat equity) assisting in the building of their house.  Habitat for Humanity uses the mortgage repayments to build more houses.  The concept of Habitat for Humanity is to “provide a hand up, not a hand out.” 
Potential occupants must go through an application and interview process that determines whether or not they qualify.  Acceptance is based on the level of need, the willingness to become partners in the program, and the ability to repay the loan. The process can be a long one.  Belen Martinez started her application process in early 2007.  Once a family is accepted as a partner, volunteers in ‘lead’ positions begin the process of seeking donated funds (approx. $130,000 is needed to begin a project in our community) and supplies, scout for a suitable piece of property, acquire permits, and finally, round up volunteers.  The partner family is allowed to make choices in color schemes, cabinetry, and flooring within budget.
As for moving in, Martinez says, “The kids are very excited.”  She has found this experience to be rewarding and feels it’s “great that Habitat for Humanity gives you the experience of working on your own house.”  Belen sums it up for the Women Build volunteers saying, “Whatever men can do, women can do.”