`Women Build a Legacy'

Jena Henderson and her three children can soon move into a home of their own, thanks to Habitat for Humanity International. Starting in June, volunteers from the nonprofit Christian housing organization will build the family of four a three-bedroom, two-bath home with a single-car garage on Heran Drive in Henderson.

The 33-year-old single mother will also participate in the construction process, however she won't be the only woman at the job site wearing a hard hat.

Although Habitat has conducted similar projects in Clark County since 1991, Henderson's home represents the first constructed locally by the sweat and tears of "Women Build a Legacy," a program that carries on Habitat's goal of providing decent housing for those in need, but does so with a twist: the volunteers are female.

"The ultimate mission is to provide a family with a home," said Susan Mackert, executive director of Habitat's Las Vegas office. "But it is accomplishing more than one purpose because it's giving women in the community a chance to give something back, and to become part of Habitat's mission as well."

Construction begins June 7 and will take an estimated five months, according to Mackert. Thus far, "many" local women have expressed an interest in volunteering, but certain key jobs, such as concrete laying or an electricial wiring, may have to be performed by men; women have not stepped forward to fill those roles as of yet. Mackert added she needed more women who can be "team leaders."

The event also relies on donated materials and funding, and in the case of the Henderson home, Mackert said that more than half of the $60,000 needed for the project has been attained. The MGM Mirage Voice Foundation, a nonprofit funded by employee donations, provided $20,000 last summer. Mackert is hoping more endowments are forthcoming, especially from women-owned businesses and organizations.

"Las Vegas is a very community-minded place, and we have many, many volunteers," Mackert said. "But the money is more difficult and that is understandable considering the economy, and the uncertainty of the future."

The city of Henderson also chipped in by furnishing a grant to purchase the land. Habitat bought three lots. Henderson's residence will measure 1,225 square feet and be situated on a lot 40 feet wide by 130 feet deep.

Consistent with Habitat's philosophy, Mackert said it will be a "simple, decent home."

Jena Henderson was selected among many applicants, after a Habitat committee of volunteers scrutinized factors such as income levels, living arrangements, tax returns, credit reports and general need. Henderson was "so excited" to be chosen, as she's been a single mother for eight years, and recalls how she once had to work as many as three jobs to help provide for herself and her children.

"It was overwhelming to try and take care of a family that way," Henderson said. "You spend more money on child care, then you have someone else raising your children.

"Being picked by Habitat was fantastic -- there were no words that could describe it. I was walking around with a smile on my face for the next two months."

Mackert emphasized how Henderson is a "partner" in the project, not just a recipient. She'll have to make monthly payments to Habitat, as the organization is taking on the role of a mortgage company. The work Henderson puts into the project herself is referred to as "sweat equity," and in the case of all 350 homes built by women volunteers across the country, each homeowner has had to do her part.

Fiona Eastwood, director of the Women Build a Legacy department of Habitat's main office in Americus, Ga., said that homeowner participation has helped the event thrive since its inception in 1991 because the family develops a "sense of appreciation" for the home and a "sense of community" by working with the other volunteers.

Eastwood also stated the events invariably continue to attract attention since construction is still considered a male-dominated field.

"Most women are intimidated by going out onto a regular Habitat build site," she said. "But when we provide a Women Build site, we find that women have no hesitation in learning how to use power tools, they very quickly pick up basic construction techniques and they're gaining skills for themselves. It's an arena dominated by men and we're enabling women to find out that they're actually very good at building homes."

It was in May 1998 that Habitat formed its department devoted to the women-dominated event, and since then, the number of them has burgeoned with 130 taking place in 2001 alone.

Construction on Henderson's home is set to begin in six weeks, and Mackert believes everything should be in place by then.

"I would definitely say that we'll be ready to go on that date," she said. "I would like to do one Women Build each year, depending on how successful we are with this event. We would like to be able to provide affordable housing since it's becoming more of an issue in Las Vegas, with the price of homes going up."

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