Women Build

Women Build 2011

Our most recent Women Build Project, the twin home at 707 W. 6th St. in Laurel, was just dedicated! Tammy DeVilbiss, her 4 children, and Sheimeka Jones, and her 4 children have a beautiful new place to call home!

Women Build is a Habitat for Humanity International program that seeks to include, encourage and empower women in the mission of building simple, decent, and affordable housing.  Sussex County volunteers came together to build a Women Build house in 1998, as part of the First Ladies Build, and then again in 2007 and 2009.  Construction on the third whole house Women Build began on June 26, 2010.

Women Build creates a comfortable, un-intimidating environment for women to learn construction skills and taps into an enormously underestimated resource. This gives women an opportunity to contradict stereotypical roles. Also, Women Build increases the number of houses that will be built with families in need.

According to the Delaware State Housing Authority, over 4,300 Sussex County families live in substandard conditions, which are defined as housing needing repairs or replacements of at least two major structural systems.  In response to this growing need for low-income housing, SCHFH is working hard to engage the community in building simple, decent, and affordable homes.  Since 1991, through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Georgetown affiliate has built 61 homes in Sussex County. Eighty-five adults and 161 children now occupy these homes.

For more information or to volunteer [email] or call the SCHFH office at (302) 855-1153, ext. 207