Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Since 2001, WomenBuild volunteers have constructed eight Habitat houses in the metro area.  

This summer, Twin Cities Habitat will partner once again with WomenVenture to advance the cause of affordable housing at WomenBuild 2006, a Habitat build on which women will provide all the site supervision and volunteer labor.  

Habitat volunteers and volunteers from WomenVenture, including students in its Jobs in the Trades program, will work from June to August to construct the two-bedroom home—one unit of a triplex at the Ripley Gardens development in Minneapolis. 

WomenVenture is a nonprofit economic development agency, created to address a wide range of economic, training and career issues affecting women.

Sue Haigh, TCHFH President, is enthused about this summer’s project. She said, “I am truly excited to be a part of  WomenBuild this year and grateful for the financial sponsorship of Ryland Homes, Andersen Corporation, Andersen Foundation and Lowe’s that allows women to come together to help us eliminate poverty housing in the Twin Cities.”  

This year’s WomenBuild has a historical angle. The project will be at the former Ripley Maternity Hospital in the Harrison neighborhood of Minneapolis. 

Tené Wells, who, as WomenVenture’s president, is always seeking partnerships and opportunities to help her organization grow its mission of helping women, says that this is the third year that WomenVenture has been involved with TCHFH. Since it began in 1978, WomenVenture has helped more than 65,000 clients achieve their goals.

"Every day we get to see women walking through our doors with their dreams, and we help them achieve those dreams," Tené said. She is delighted that this partnership with TCHFH will help a family achieve its dream of home ownership. 

Tara Lumley is the TCHFH staff site supervisor for the  WomenBuild project. As a site supervisor for TCHFH for seven years and involved with WomenBuild for three years, she is knowledgeable and experienced in all phases of home construction and in leading volunteer groups through the building process. Tara makes sure that the quality of construction is maintained, that safety is observed, and that the talent of the volunteers is put to good use. 

Although a lot rests on her shoulders, she finds lighthearted moments in her job. “I did learn last year while working with an all-woman crew, that there is still a place in your toolbox for lipstick!” joked Tara.

Contributed by Jan Zitnick