‘We can build hope’: Habitat for Humanity holds Women Build Week in SE Bend neighborhood
(Update: Adding video)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build Week is not just an event — it’s a movement to showcase the vital roles women play in their communities.
Bend-Redmond Habitat's Women Build Week event is being held at one of their newest build sites in the area Daly Estates, which includes nine townhouses.
In response to a mostly unmet need, they are offering one- and four-bedroom homes; two- and three-bedroom homes have been typical in their other neighborhoods.
Habitat hopes to not only bring light to the disparities women face, but assist in a solution. With 75% of Habitat homeowners being single mothers, this week hopes to encourage equity and recognition.
“We have over a hundred volunteers out here this week. It’s also an education and empowerment event ... the majority of our construction staff is a woman-led construction team,” said Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity CEO Carly Colgan.
Women aren’t just building the homes - they’re buying them. Seven of the nine homebuyers in the Daly Estates neighborhood are households led by women.
The event intends to shed light on issues women typically face when trying to get into homeownership. Lower wages than their male counterparts and higher rejection rates for obtaining a mortgage are two of the major obstacles.
Volunteers have the opportunity for hands-on training alongside professional construction workers. To help fuel motivation, powerful messages and stories of resilience were shared during a crew lunch break.
“We can build homes. We can build opportunity. And most importantly, we can build hope,” said Colgan.
One of the future homeowners was also present, saying: “I’m so grateful that Habitat chose to partner with me and my family. That is the biggest blessing. And thank you so much for all of you that are here.”
For many of the volunteers, it’s also an opportunity to find connection and meaning in the work.
Volunteer Laura Voisinet said, “It's so great to meet other women who want to join up with you, and you make friends by the end of the day. And to meet face-to-face the people's lives that you're helping to change - you want to keep coming back and doing that some more.”
Continuing to work through rainy and windy conditions, the dedication of those involved has been apparent. This week’s event has been a shining example of one of the messages Habitat hopes to spread — “Strong women build strong communities.”
