NORFOLK, VA (July 8, 2020) – Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads (Habitat SHR) is proud to announce its first Women Build Week, August 3-7 from 8am-5pm daily at 1128 Seaboard Avenue in Chesapeake. The project recruits and empowers women of all ages, backgrounds and industries to come together to build a home for a qualified, low-income family and make a powerful and visible impact in our local community through affordable housing.

Women Build Week 2020 is a chance to gain skills on a build site and, in addition, introduce women to the construction trades as a career path. The volunteer women groups who participate will assist Habitat SHR in the framing of the house.

Habitat SHR is looking for businesses to be Women Build Week sponsors. The companies can be either a women-owned firm or a business that wants to provide a unique opportunity for their women employees. Individuals can also participate by raising or donating $150. Sponsorship information can be found at www.shrhabitat.org/events

Homeownership is a powerful way to break the cycle of generational poverty. Studies show children of homeowners are:

• 20% less likely to become teen parents
• 25% more likely to graduate from high school
• Twice as likely to graduate college
• 60% more likely to own their own homes within 10 years of moving out of their parents’ homes

Women Build Week is sponsored by “Coast Live” on WTKR NewsChannel 3 and Coastal Virginia Magazine.

Habitat originally planned to do the Women Build in July but postponed the build to give its professional engineers time to develop a stormwater runoff plan to minimize any flood/environmental impact in South Norfolk.

Media are invited to cover the home construction. Contact Sara Jo Rubin at sarajo@rubincommunications.com to coordinate your arrival.

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