Posted May 18, 2023 By ALLEN MINCEY
FUTURE HOMEOWNER LaTrayier Williamson tries her hand with a nail gun as she puts in sweat equity at the Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland Women Build Monday.
“It shouldn't feel this good,” Fuller said while holding one of the nail guns she would learn to use. “It just feels good to be able to help a little bit … to put in a few sweat equity hours and raise a little bit of money to reduce a first-time homeowner’s mortgage.
“It just feels good," she said.
Fuller mentioned “sweat equity,” which is actually what the homeowner must put in as part of the Habitat agreement. Bernita Williams and her daughter, LaTrayier Williamson, were both “sweating” with the “Girls with Pearls” Monday, and will be working with other teams throughout this and next week.
“I'm so excited; I'm so thrilled,” said Williams. “It's such an honor and a beautiful experience. It's a blessing watching these women working on our new home.”
Currently, Williams and her daughter and grandson, Ky’mier, are living with LaTrayier’s older brother, but long for a home of their own. In fact, Williams said her daughter was extremely anxious to help the women with the project.
“One of her goals in school was, ‘Mommy I want to build a house.’ So, her high school dream is coming true,” Williams said. “And, it’s like they say, this is sweat equity.”
Fuller and Construction Director David Cowan both stated that there was no doubt during the humid morning that the “sweat” part was very evident.
Cowan explained this was the first opportunity for ladies in the Women Build to actually use power tools.
BERNITA WILLIAMS, who with her daughter and grandson will move into the new Habitat home, gets assistance from Brenda Voytik at Monday's Women Build.
“This is the first women's build where we're using all the power tools — the nail guns, all the big saws,” Cowan said. “We are trying to make sure that they get the full experience.
“I didn't want to patronize them just swinging hammers,” he added. “We really want to try to get as much accomplished and show the community what these women can do. They're doing a fantastic job.”
Along with building the home, these women have come up with creative names for their teams. Along with those previously mentioned, there are Pretty with Power Tools, TVFCU HERoes, Wright Women, Roof Raisers, Women Empowered, Dream Builders, Chicks with Sticks, Women of Wacker and Millie’s Hammering Honeys, and a second Girls with Pearls team (2.0).
Each women’s team spends four hours working on the home, and consists of six to 12 members. The women have individually pledged to raise $250 for Habitat.
CLEVELAND STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE President Ty Stone uses a nail gun on one of the beams at Monday's Women Build.
The women working at Habitat have also formed their own team, called House Decking Divas, to help in building the new home. That team is headed by Habitat Homeowner Services Manager NaCole Massengill, and could possibly include Habitat Executive Director Tammy Johnson.
“Thank you to our incredible community for supporting our Habitat Women Build,” Johnson said. “Your generosity, enthusiasm and hard work are making a real difference in the lives of families in need.
THE SHIRT SAYS IT ALL, as worn by one of the Girls with Pearls volunteers.
“Together we are building not just houses, but also hope and brighter futures. We couldn’t do it without you.”
The Women Build will continue through Friday, May 25, and Cowan said he would like to have “this house not only dried in, which means all the windows, doors trusses and a roof, but I'd also like to have siding by the end of the two-week period.”
The home is located in the Victory Cove Habitat subdivision, which also features a home which is part of the Leaders Build which began several weeks ago.
