Woman Power

by Liz Harris

Habitat for Humanity will break ground in June for two new homes in Germantown. They hope to house two families while providing women with the skills and confidence they need to contribute to the construction of these buildings and to the maintenance of their own homes through the Women’s Build program. (The Habitat for Humanity affiliate creates projects for which women do the planning, designing and fundraising as well as the majority of the construction.)

On May 7, Trading Spaces carpenter Amy Wynn Pastor will host the Women's Build fundraiser for these two upcoming projects. The event -- to be held at the Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square -- will feature a cocktail party, entertainment by the band LeRoy, food donated by various Philadelphia establishments (including Victory Brewing and Whole Foods) and a silent auction. There, Pastor will discuss her involvement with Habitat for Humanity, her experience in the field of construction and what problems she encounters as a woman in a male-dominated field.

Habitat for Humanity accepts families into their program if their income is 30 percent to 50 percent of the median income for the city and if they live in substandard housing. Once accepted into the program, families must give Habitat 350 "Sweat Equity" hours during which they help build their home while contributing to other projects. They must also attend home-maintenance workshops.

Which house becomes their home depends highly upon timing: Once they've contributed the mandatory 350 hours, they're eligible for an available house with adequate space for their family. (Habitat likes to provide each child with their own bedroom.)

Jane Anderson, the development manager of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia and a volunteer for Women's Build, hopes that participating in the actual construction not only "will make women feel more comfortable on a construction site, but also in their own lives."

Rather than being an issue of strength, knowledge or ability, Anderson says a lack of confidence drives women to reassign home-maintenance tasks to men. She hopes that giving women certain skills will provide them the self-assurance they need to feel more comfortable with these duties.

The Women's Build Committee -- while helping women display abilities by empowering them -- plans to raise $140,000 (with the help of women) for its Germantown projects, which will be largely constructed and entirely designed by women. Women can display their abilities and their desire to learn and to help while further empowering themselves and their contemporaries.

For more information visit: www.habitatphiladelphia.org

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