A volunteer team from Cenlar helped frame affordable homes in Hightstown, New Jersey
Hightstown, NJ (March 8, 2023) – A volunteer group from Cenlar FSB, the nation’s leading mortgage subservicer, spent International Women’s Day in Hightstown helping Habitat for Humanity of South Central New Jersey (SCNJ) frame two new affordable homes as a part of Women Build Week – an annual event held by Habitat that seeks to empower women and help them achieve stability, security and independence with hands-on learning experiences.
Cenlar has been a longstanding partner of Habitat SCNJ, providing both volunteers and funding for affordable housing initiatives over the years. The Cenlar team who swapped the office for the construction site was excited to swing hammers as a special part of Women Build Week.
“Habitat for Humanity has been a partner for many years and we are committed to working with them to make real the dream of homeownership,” said Vice President of Human Resources Kimberly Matthews. “A home is so much more than a shelter – it’s a place of comfort and security, a place to make memories. We are honored to be part of this build that will provide affordable homes to women and their families in our local communities.”
The Habitat event invites women to devote their time to help families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through housing. By spotlighting the homeownership challenges faced by women and providing opportunities for skills training and homeowner education during the first week of March, Habitat and Women Build participants aim to send the message that every woman can empower themselves and others through learning and using construction skills.
Furthermore, Habitat SCNJ seeks to address the gaps in equity that women experience when seeking to provide themselves and their loved ones with a safe and affordable place to call home. For over 35 years, the organization has provided permanent housing solutions to local hardworking women in need of a helping hand as they build brighter futures for themselves and their loved ones. In fact, women-led households make up 65% of new Habitat Homeowners and 55% of homeowners who receive home repairs in the last 3 years. Next door to the houses under construction sit two Habitat homes that were completed and sold last year.
Both new homeowners are women. They worked hard putting in hundreds of hours of sweat working on their homes and attending financial classes. Now, they have a place of their own to provide their families with safety, stability, and comfort.
Women Build is not just about supporting local women in their efforts to build brighter futures for themselves and their loved ones, but it’s also an opportunity to highlight local businesses that play critical roles in the communities we build in and serve women in their efforts to achieve and maintain homeownership. Companies like Cenlar amplify their work and Habitat’s through their involvement in Women Build, and their support will bring more affordable housing opportunities to the community and provide women with pathways to move onward and upward from substandard living situations.
CBS Phialdelphia News covered the story here: NJ women give back by building up on International Women’s Day – CBS Philadelphia (cbsnews.com)