Local volunteers join women across the United States to create affordable housing

Women volunteers, Mayor Bill Finch, Sonya Finch, Mary Himes, Cynthia Blumenthal, Habitat CFC  and Lowe’s Heroes, raised their hammers for a Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) home in recognition of National Women Build Week. National Women Build Week, held May 5-13, is a nationwide initiative of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program developed in partnership with Lowe’s.

This year’s theme, “The Build Generation,” reflects the event’s goal to recruit and train women volunteers, as well as welcome the next generation of Habitat Women Builders – young women, ages 18-24 – to help support Habitat’s mission to create affordable housing. Women volunteers from across Fairfield County kicked-off construction on Habitat CFC’s 8^th Women Build sponsored home. Lowe’s is providing Habitat CFC a $5,000 Lowe’s store gift card, as well as in-store volunteer training to support of this Habitat for Humanity Women Build home.

Nearly 100 volunteers, including groups from General Electric’s Women’s Corporate Networking Group, RBS, IBM, Lowe’s of Milford, JoZ Events and Her Haven framed and raised walls on the 8^th Women Build sponsored home being built on Whittier Street in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport.  This build represents an expansion of Habitat’s services to a new neighborhood in Bridgeport after the successful execution of 130 homes in the East Side.  In their 27 year history, Habitat CFC has served more than 650 individuals through the construction of 165 homes across Fairfield County.

“Whether it’s with donations or elbow grease, the contributions to Women Build has a significant, meaningful impact on families in a way that empowers them to succeed and transforms them into tax-paying contributors to our shared community,” said Mary Petro, who co-chairs Habitat CFC’s Women Build committee with Mary Ellen Gallagher.

Volunteers from GE's Women's Corporate Networking Group pose with Mayor Bill Finch, Sonya Finch, Mary Himes, Cynthia Blumenthal and Habitat homeowners during National Women Build Week 2012 in Bridgeport.

E! News correspondent and long-time Habitat supporter Kristina Guerrero, whose mother built her home in partnership with an affordable-housing organization in 1998, is building with her mother, sister and 25 women volunteers, in Los Angeles.

“My mom, brothers, sisters and I are living proof of the difference affordable housing can make in a family’s life,” said Guerrero. “I encourage all women to find ways to join Habitat this week. Whether it’s building alongside other volunteers or helping to recruit or train new volunteers, every effort helps families realize their dreams of homeownership. Through working together, we can make a difference in the lives of low-income families in need of affordable housing.”

Lowe’s, underwriter of Habitat’s Women Build program, has committed more than $1.3 million to National Women Build Week in support of 275 participating affiliates. National Women Build Week is one of the major initiatives supported through Lowe’s five-year, $20 million pledge to Habitat. As the underwriter of the Women Build program since 2004, Lowe’s conducts “How-To” clinics at stores to teach women construction skills, enabling them to support Habitat projects across the country.  Habitat CFC and Lowe’s of Milford hosted a “How-To” clinic to prepare women volunteers to build in Bridgeport.

“Lowe’s has been the proud sponsor of Habitat’s Women Build program since 2004,” said Marshall Croom, chairman of the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “Women Build encourages women from all ages and walks of life to pick up their hammers and build affordable homes alongside local families. Lowe’s salutes all the women volunteers who take time to build this week and values the difference Lowe’s and Habitat are making in the lives of families across the nation.”

The U.S. Census Bureau reports more than 12 million children—one out of every six—are living in poverty in the United States, where more than 70 percent of Habitat’s U.S. houses are built in partnership with women heads-of-household.  According to a report on housing published by the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition, virtually every family rental apartment or condominium developed in Bridgeport since 2005 or currently under construction is not affordable to Bridgeport’s families earning up to 80% of the Bridgeport area median income, which in 2010 is $86,600.  Habitat’s Women Build program recruits, educates and inspires women to build and advocate for simple, decent and affordable houses in their communities. Since the inception of Habitat’s Women Build program in 1998 more than 1,900 Habitat for Humanity Women Build houses have been constructed in partnership with low-income families.

About Lowe’s

Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company’s signature education grant program, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education^®, has donated nearly $5 million in grants to K-12 public schools every year since its inception in 2006. Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross. In 2011, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $32 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.  To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org,  or follow us at http://www.facebook.com/habitator at http://www.twitter.com/habitat_orgor join Habitat’s blog community at  www.habitat.org/blog.

Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) successfully met the requirements of a challenge grant offered by a Fairfield County Community Foundation (FCCF) donor advised fund holder who receives philanthropic advisory services from Fairfield County Community Foundation staff.  The terms of the $15,000 challenge grant required that Habitat CFC raise an additional $15,000 by April 15, 2012. The grant supports the salary of an additional worker in Habitat CFC’s family services department.

“We are grateful to FCCF and the donor advised fund holder for providing us with this opportunity, which helped us raise funds for this needed additional position and also helped us raise awareness  of the importance of our family services department’s work,” Berzin said.

About Fairfield County Community Foundation

The Fairfield County Community Foundation promotes the growth of community and regional philanthropy to improve the quality of life throughout Fairfield County. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds or contribute to existing funds. The Foundation also provides philanthropic advisory services, and develops and leads initiatives to tackle critical community issues. It is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards for community foundations. The Foundation has awarded $135 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. For more information, visit www.fccfoundation.org.

Habitat CFC provides safe, decent, affordable housing to low-income families in Fairfield County.  Habitat partner families must: currently be living in substandard housing; have income between 35-60% of the Area Median Income; have the ability to repay a 30 year 0% mortgage; and be willing and able to complete 500 hours of sweat equity.

For more information call 203-333-2642 or visit our website www.habitatcfc.org

Easton Cub Scouts Pierce Neunteufel, Aaron Chabannes, William Manusky and Mitchell Manusky present a gift basket of home goods to Habitat CFC’s newest homeowner Nordia Black.

To see pictures of Nordia’s dedication ceremony, click here.

Better Together, a group comprising more than 100 young people from the youth groups of New Canaan’s Christian churches is partnering with the West Side Neighborhood Revitalization Zone’s Take Back Carwin Park Committee, young people from the Yerwood Center and the Boys & Girls Club, the City of Stamford Parks & Recreation Department and Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County which recently completed an 8-unit condo complex on the corner of Spruce St. and West Main St., to clean up one of the neighborhood’s important resources, Carwin Park.   During the spring and summer neighborhood children and adults enjoy using the park for recreation and relaxation. As well, Carwin Park hosts a series of concerts over the summer months which the entire neighborhood enjoys.  However it had fallen into some disrepair and these community groups joined forces to give the park a face lift. Whole Foods of Darien provided snacks and water for the day.

“We were seeking a project that would engage the young people we work with into a project that would have immediate, tangible results,” said Josh Hill the leader of Better Together.  “But we knew that we needed to reach out to the folks who lived in the neighborhood to make sure that they were interested in the project too.”

“This group was so well organized and efficient.  It was impressive to see more than 100 young people from all different backgrounds working together on the park clean-up.  As the day went on more and more people from the neighborhood joined and made it a true grassroots community effort.  Our Habitat families, who recently moved into their new homes on the corner were excited to participate in a community effort to show their commitment to their new neighborhood,” said Lisa Cannella, Habitat for Humanity’s Chief Development Officer.

About Better Together
“The mission of Better Together is to help Christian teens from all the New Canaan churches and other Christian organizations see that, in the end, they’re all on the same team.”

See what the group accomplished by clicking here for photos.

Click the “Donate Online” button to the right to help us raise the remaining $6,000 needed for Holly’s home.

Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) announces the launch of its new Critical Home Repair program (CHR) with the renovation of Holly Flynn’s home in Fairfield.  The project is sponsored by Love Where You Live Homes, LLC of Trumbull, CT and the Tatangelo Family Charitable Trust.  CHR helps low-income homeowners who due to age, disability or family circumstances struggle to maintain the integrity of their homes. CHR will allow Habitat CFC to serve more families and increase opportunities for volunteers. CHR addresses the health and safety of individual residences in a neighborhood, and strengthens connections within the community.

Love Where You Live Homes, LLC will donate nearly $20,000 in materials and labor to the project on items ranging from tree work to installation of new plumbing and electrical systems, repairing masonry, installing new kitchen and bathroom cabinets and fixtures.  Habitat CFC will perform demolition work, painting, cleaning and organizing the new space.

Holly’s older son Kevin, age 26, has autism and her younger son Tommy, age 19,  has developmental disabilities.  Both have cystic fibrosis as well and they live at home with Holly who provides around the clock care for them.  Remarkably, Holly spends time every week guiding her sons as they perform volunteer work at several community organizations.  Kevin sets up tables and serves lunch three times a week at the Fairfield Senior Center and he also reshelves videos and DVDs at the Fairfield Woods Library. Tommy shelves groceries at the Merton House food pantry twice a week.

Holly with her sons Kevin and Tommy.

Holly’s two daughters Molly and Melissa are both in college on scholarships.  Molly is on track to graduate from New York University in May and Melissa is pursuing graduate studies at Trinity College in Ireland.

“We live based on what we need, not we want” said Holly.  “To have this opportunity for our home to be renovated inside and out is a true gift.  It’s something that I would never be able to do on my own.”

Glenn Tatangelo of Love Where You Live Homes, LLC said, “I have been involved with Habitat CFC since 2005 serving as a Board member and a construction volunteer. My partner Danielle and I believe it is important to give back to the community. I knew that Habitat CFC planned to launch the Critical Home Repair program and when I heard about Holly’s situation I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the program.”

“We are excited to be kicking off the CHR program with Holly and her family.  We hope to help families in similar situations throughout coastal Fairfield County.  Sponsoring and volunteering on a CHR project  is a great opportunity for faith communities, corporations schools and community groups to partner with us in making a meaningful, tangible impact on a family and a community,” said Keith Cook Habitat CFC’s Co-President and Director of Construction.

The project will take place May 7 - 18, 2012.  To learn more about how you can help Holly and her family, please call 203-333-2642 or email Habitat CFC’s Chief Development Officer, Lisa Cannella at lcannella@habitatcfc.org.

Click here to see progress of the home throughout the build.

State Farm® Insurance Companies awarded Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) a $10,000 Community Development Grant to help support the construction of two affordable homes in the Pembroke Historic District of Bridgeport. The grant funding helped push the project “over the finish line” and will complete construction on the two family duplex.

“All of us at Habitat CFC are so grateful for the financial support and volunteers from State Farm and all of the companies, foundations, organizations and individuals that make it possible to fulfill our mission,” said Bruce Berzin, Co-President of Habitat CFC. Without “Good Neighbors” we could not help aspiring families help themselves and in turn revitalize neighborhoods and communities”.

The Kossuth Street Duplex Project was developed in partnership with the City of Bridgeport and HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program.  The Pembroke Historic District is located in Bridgeport’s East Side, which is an area that has beautiful 1800’s era Victorian and Italianate homes in need of repair. This project presented Habitat CFC with another opportunity to achieve their goal of providing more affordable homes and restoring abandoned properties to productive and tax-paying use. Throughout the project, Habitat CFC implemented sustainable construction standards in the areas of water use, energy efficiency, safety and health and materials conservation.

“State Farm believes communities are the foundation of society and we’re committed to helping maintain the vibrancy and culture of our neighborhoods,” said State Farm Agent Steve Boyle. “We’re proud to support responsible neighborhood organizations who share our business-oriented objective of building safer, stronger and healthy communities.”

Each year State Farm awards grants to non-profit organizations, governmental entities, and educational institutions for programs that help make communities safer, stronger, and more educated.

To donate or to get more information about Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, Youth United, or this event, visit www.habitatcfc.org.

About State Farm®
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts and more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 37 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.

Women volunteers will raise their hammers at Habitat for Humanity construction sites across the country in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 5-13. The event is a nationwide initiative of Habitat’s Women Build program developed in partnership with Lowe’s.

Now in its fifth year, National Women Build Week challenges women to devote at least one day to creating simple, decent and affordable housing in their local communities. Nearly 31,000 women volunteers from all 50 states have participated in the previous four events.

To date, women volunteers have helped construct more than 1,900 Habitat houses nationwide. Locally, Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) has built 7 Women Build homes.

Habitat CFC’s National Women Build Week kicks off with Mary Himes, Cynthia Blumenthal, and Sonya Finch joining members of General Electric’s corporate women’s network to begin construction of the affiliate’s 8^th Women Build sponsored home.  Volunteers are needed Wednesday, May 9 and Friday, May 11 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. to help frame walls and build sub-flooring.  If you can’t spend the whole day, Habitat invites you to stop by between 9:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. to learn more about Women Build and see volunteers in action.  There will also be a family program offered Friday, May 11, 3:30 -5:00 p.m. for parents and children to work together and learn more about Women Build and Youth United, Habitat CFC’s program for kids age 5-25.  The week will end with a Wall Raising Ceremony on Saturday, May 12, at 9:00 a.m. celebrating the beginning of construction on another safe and affordable home for family in need.

National Women Build Week is held the week leading up to Mother’s Day because of its significance to Habitat homeowners and volunteers. Families with children make up a staggering number of those in need of adequate housing. More than 12 million children – one in six – live in poverty housing in the United States alone.

This year’s theme, “The Build Generation,” reflects the event’s goal to recruit and train women volunteers, as well as welcome the next generation of Habitat Women Builders – young women, ages 18-24 – to help support Habitat’s mission to create affordable housing. Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) are looking for women to volunteer at a Bridgeport Habitat construction site for at least one day during this nine-day event that culminates on Mother’s Day. Construction or home improvement experience is not necessary.

Lowe’s contributed more than $1.3 million to National Women Build Week, providing $5,000 Lowe’s gift cards to 275 Habitat affiliates. National Women Build Week is one of the major initiatives supported through Lowe’s five-year, $20 million pledge to Habitat. As the underwriter of the Women Build program since 2004, Lowe’s conducts “how-to” clinics at stores to teach women construction skills, enabling them to support Habitat projects across the country.

To volunteer or donate to this project, please call 203-333-2642, email womenbuild@habitatcfc.org or visit http://tinyurl.com/HabitatWB.

Bridgeport, CT (March 16, 2012)- Westport National Bank has generously provided Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) with the funding to purchase a new trailer. The donation comes in response to the overnight theft of a Habitat CFC construction trailer in February, 2012. Habitat CFC currently has eight homes under construction that will be sold to working, low-income families with a 0%, mortgage financed by Habitat CFC. The organization uses construction trailers to transport materials between its jobsites.

Westport National Bank President, Richard Cummings recognized the need to replace the equipment immediately. “The Bank has supported Habitat for many years and we have always been impressed not only with their mission, but the demonstrated positive impact Habitat has had in our communities. When we read about the theft of the trailer from a work site, we saw it as an opportunity to help them continue their great work.”

Westport National Bank has partnered with Habitat CFC for more than seven years.  “Having the equipment to execute our mission is vital to our ability to serve more low-income families in need of safe and healthy housing.  We are grateful for the support that Westport National Bank has continued to show us throughout our many years of partnership and deeply appreciate their commitment to eliminating sub-standard housing in our communities,” said Keith Cook, Co-President of Habitat CFC.

Photo Caption:

Photo : ( l-r) Westport National Bank President Richard Cummings and Vice President Ken Eckert with Habitat CFC Co-President Keith Cook in front of the newly purchased trailer.

About Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County

Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County is an independently run, local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International.  As a housing ministry, Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County seeks to build community and to improve lives by partnering with low-income families and with community volunteers and donors to build simple, decent, safe and affordable neighborhoods. For more information or to make a donation, visit our website at www.habitatcfc.org or call 203.333.2642, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitatforhumanityofcoastalfairfieldcounty.

Kids camp out for the homeless

Updated: Saturday, 28 Jan 2012, 6:37 PM EST
Published : Saturday, 28 Jan 2012, 6:37 PM EST

• Annie Rourke