Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. to Showcase "Women Build: She Nailed It" Affordable Housing Project at Ivy City on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. (DC Habitat) will be joined by 15 senior executive volunteers from PenFed Credit Union and other private sector and community leaders at a "Women Build: She Nailed It" construction site event in Northeast DC to promote affordable homeownership for working families on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.

The August 16 showcase will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a "sneak preview" and media tour of the Ivy City construction site. The tour will be followed by a brief program featuring DC Habitat President and CEO Susanne V. Slater; Debbie Ames-Naylor, Executive Vice President and President, Mortgage Banking, PenFed, City Council Members, DC Habitat homeowner Andrea Morgan, and others. Miss Shanel James, Miss US International 2017 and a graduate of Howard University (2012), will also make brief remarks.

The construction site is located at 1814 Central Place, N.E. (Ivy City), Washington, D.C.

Launched on International Women's Day on March 8, 2017, DC Habitat's "Women Build: She Nailed It" initiative shines a light on the ways that women are disproportionately affected by poverty and substandard housing. Women Build also highlights the contributions of women invested in bringing the DC community together to build and raise money for affordable housing. Currently, the campaign is on track to meet its fundraising goal of $500,000 to provide permanent, safe, decent homes for five local families.

On September 14, DC Habitat's "Women Build: She Nailed It" campaign will conclude with a celebration reception with V.I.P. headliners at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.

"Women in the nation's capital, especially women who serve as the head of their family, often face obstacles that make escaping poverty seem impossible. DC Habitat focuses on helping local families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership opportunities," said Susanne Slater, President and CEO of DC Habitat.

"For many, Washington, D.C. represents opportunity. Leaders from every state in the nation and from across the globe work here. With the city's many laudable distinctions come almost insurmountable challenges for our lowest income neighbors. DC Habitat's Women Build program is an exciting and innovative way for women – and the men who support them – to become actively involved in the program. I look forward to briefing everyone, particularly members of the media, on our progress on August 16," said Slater.

This week's event will be made possible by PenFed, which has supplied critical acquisition financing, and a $100,000 donation to make the timing on this project work. These contributions have been overseen by the leadership of James Schenck, President and CEO of PenFed, who has shown sustained interest and unwavering support of affordable homeownership in D.C. and PenFed Executive Vice President Debbie Ames Naylor, who serves as the chair of the Women Build Steering Committee, which has led the fundraising efforts for the 2017 Women Build campaign.

Since March, more than two dozen all-volunteer construction builds with DC Habitat's corporate and nonprofit partners have been scheduled. Those include PenFed, Avalon Bay, Edgewood, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Kiwanis Club, Leidos, and MidCity Financial, among others.

The groundbreaking ceremony for this Ivy City project to build 12 new affordable homes was October 11, 2016 and enjoyed the support of government, corporate and community leaders, including Mayor Muriel Bowser who headlined the event, David Franco, President, Principal and Cofounder of Level 2 Development, PenFed's Ames-Naylor, and Director Polly Donaldson, of the DC Department of Housing and Community Development, and others.

This marks the seventh year of DC Habitat's work in Ivy City. Since 2010, the organization has completed and rehabilitated nearly 30 homes in the neighborhood, which were all built to LEED, Earthcraft, or Passive House standards to decrease environmental impact and energy costs, making the homes even more affordable for Habitat families.

"By working in partnership with families, we offer a hand up, not a handout. Families work alongside us toward the dream of homeownership that provides a path to the middle class and breaks the cycle of poverty. The work that DC Habitat does is transformative and allows families to stop struggling to get by and begin to thrive," said Slater.

According to Professional Builder magazine, 2015, Habitat for Humanity International was the 15th largest homebuilder in the United States. Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity is a true world leader in addressing the issues of poor housing conditions. It provides credibility and reach, operating in nearly 1,400 communities across the U.S. and in over 70 countries around the world.

Since DC Habitat's founding in 1988, 200 homes in Washington, D.C. and abroad have been built or rehabilitated, utilizing the help of 2,000 to 5,000 volunteers each year. Habitat DC currently has 44 new homes in its construction pipeline and plans to substantially increase the number of D.C. families served to 450 families through homeownership opportunities, critical home repair and counseling by 2020.

For more information, visit: http://www.dchabitat.org/events/women-build/

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.

Related Links

http://www.dchabitat.org