GRAND RAPIDS — State Representative Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) participated in a Habitat for Humanity of Kent County Women Build project on Saturday, Feb. 23. The project, designed to teach women construction skills while building a safe home for a qualified family, took place at a home under construction on Robey Place SE in Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Heights neighborhood.
“Habitat for Humanity has helped so many Grand Rapids families create stable and secure housing over the years, and I gladly took part in their latest effort,” Brinks said. “Habitat for Humanity of Kent County’s ‘Women Build’ program teaches women to take charge of a project, learn construction skills and take action to end substandard housing. I’m proud to be a small part of the work Habitat for Humanity volunteers do to help build homes.”
The house under construction is being built in partnership with a single mother who needed to find a new home after her daughter was hospitalized for lead poisoning. More than 60 percent of Habitat houses are built with women heads of household, according to Habitat for Humanity of Kent County.
“We are grateful for the tremendous community support behind Women Build and appreciate Rep. Brinks’ involvement in this project,” said Mary Buikema, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Kent County. “Women working together to help a family realize the dream of homeownership is empowering.”?