Women in Sacramento unite to build 10 homes for month-long Habitat for Humanity event

By Leticia Ordaz

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    SACRAMENTO, California (KCRA) — Women painted and learned to use nail guns to build their new homes on Le Donne Drive in south Sacramento on Saturday.

With the help of Habitat for Humanity, they are working hard to have a fresh start.

Tiffany Timberman will move into one of the homes she is building and said the program is a game changer.

“I had a rough upbringing with my family. We had experienced homelessness when we were young. I have my kids, and I don’t want them to ever go through that,” Timberman said. “We try to do whatever we can to better their lives as children and not have to worry about the things that I had to worry about growing up.”

Monique Lujan, a single mother, is learning that she can build her own home and nine other homes on Le Donne Drive.

“It’s going to be a stepping stone for the future for me and my kids, so I’m really proud. They are going to have their own room now. It’s going to be a big change, and we are going to love it,” Lujan said.

Habitat for Humanity is also providing opportunities to build lifelong friendships.

“When you really think about it it’s super emotional, one of the best parts is being able to build with my new neighbors,” Lujan said. We are building real bonds, and we are going to live here for years and know each other. Our kids are going to meet each other and grow up together.”

The Women Build project received a $40,000 gift from the Julie Soderlund Memorial Fund.

Soderlund was a community leader who died of cancer in 2016 at the age of 38.

Her friends came to the neighborhood to help ten families build a brighter future.

“Julie passed in 2016, and there is barely a day that goes by that I don’t think of her,” said Mary Daffin, a friend of Soderlund.

The women participating in Women Build in Sacramento will move into these new homes later this year.

Some of them said they hope their efforts will inspire other women in need to change their own lives.

“If there is a goal you want to meet, such as becoming a homeowner, just do the work that you need to do to put yourself in a position to continue to work hard and try to reach that goal because it’s possible,” said Lujan.

The Cornerstone Community in South Sacramento is part of an 18-home development for Habitat for Humanity.

Eight homes are still available for qualifying applicants.

Interested families have until March 30th to apply.

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