Women Build in Buffalo

Story Options

Sep 18th 2005, 3:56pm By queenseyes

The latest Women Build project was recently completed, and today marked another milestone for everyone involved on this inspirational project. In four months, 400 determined women have built a simple, decent house for a local mother (photo) and her family. Huge efforts have paid off and many details came together this week. Appliances arrived, landscaping was completed and a great cleanup crew kept busy getting ready for the house dedication, which was today at 2:30.

This latest Women Build 2005 family is headed by Darlene Johnson (photo) and includes her two sons, Durell Harris and Jalin Harmon, ages 19 and 12. Darlene works as a nurseis aide in the hospital at Wende Correctional Facility. Her older son is a full-time student at ITT Technical Institute, from which he will graduate this spring with an associateis degree. Durell also holds a full-time job.

Habitat homeowners must put in 500 hours of isweat equityi before they move into their new homes. After the first 150 hours are completed at other Habitat work sites (new builds and/or rehab houses), the family is added to a list to be considered for a house of their own. Relatives or friends may donate some of the time, but Darlene has personally completed all of hers (over 400 hours so far). Darlene fulfilled the final hours of her commitment working in partnership with the Women Build volunteers to construct her own house.

Women Build has already built 350 houses nationwide. They learn their skills from experts and adapt them when needed to accommodate their particular strengths. Women Build projects actively recruit and train women builders. All aspects of the project are planned and organized by women in the WNY area. Women execute the projects, which include design development, site planning and ultimately construction.

Women Build is sponsored by Habitat for Humanity - Buffalo.

User Options

digulios

Would you like to subscribe to this conversation?

Enter your email below, and you will receive an alert each time someone leaves a comment on this post.

What Do You Think?

Login to get more

Related Articles

  • Avant Almost Fully-Skinned

    Story Image The metamorphosis of the former Dulski federal building, rechristened Avant, continues as the final pieces of glass façade are going up on the 15-story structure. The $80 million conversion of the building into a mix of office, hotel and residential space is expected to be complete early next year. UniQuest, a joint venture consisting of Uniland Development Company and Acquest Development is project developer.

  • Mobility Across the Ages at Buffalo Central Terminal Saturday

    Story Image Back in the day before international airports and interstate highways, the Central Terminal was Buffalo’s gateway to the world. But in a turn of events scarcely imaginable to the generation that built the Terminal, passenger rail service is now a ghost of its former self—chronically late, infrequent, and boarded from sheds either miles away in Depew, or cowering hidden at the feet of the expressway downtown. Now, in a post-modern era of skyrocketing gas prices, re-urbanizati …

  • ECHDC Awards Aud Demo Contract, Names Interim President

    Story Image Ontario Specialty Contracting Inc.(OSC) has been chosen by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) Board of Directors to perform demolition on the Memorial Auditorium. The ECHDC authorized a nearly $1.5M contract with the Buffalo-based firm, the lowest bidders for the demo out of 11 companies. In addition, OSC will grind the concrete for reuse, rather than simply disposing of it. The demolition contract directs OSC to carry out the work within a 5-month window …

  • Half & Half Trading Co.

    Story Image Debbie Sidel opened the door of Half & Half Trading Co. at the age of 22. Now, even after 35 years of business, Debbie has not lost an ounce of enthusiasm for her role as owner of the little boutique. Debbie has dressed generations of women in Buffalo. “Sometimes three different generations of women will walk in, a girl, her mother, and the grandmother, and they can all find something they like!” Debbie said. “I started out dressing college kids, then, as they grew up, …

Text Links