The annual weeklong event was created by Habitat’s Women Build Program and invites women to devote at least one day to help families build strength, stability and independence through housing. The week is meant to spotlight the homeownership challenges faced by women.
This year, Hartford Area HFH, part of an international non-profit that provides affordable homes to low-income families around the world, is building three duplex units for six families on South Marshall Street in Hartford. The seven member, all-female WSP team joined two future homeowners and numerous Hartford Area HFH employees during the build.
Julia Jack, a project controls specialist with WSP, organized the event based on her previous experience working with Hartford Area HFH as the director of Capital Workforce Partner’s YouthBuild (YB) Program, located in New Britain, Connecticut. The program mentors inner-city youth between the ages of 16-24 by assisting in GED certification and construction job training.
“Over the past four years I’ve had the pleasure in working with Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity. Their dedication to creating housing development for families in need has a positive, long-lasting impact to the many communities they serve. Our team was committed to helping this Hartford community and seize an opportunity to learn, bond and build as a team of colleagues, friends, and women.”
Volunteers had a positive experience participating in this hands-on, problem solving assignment, according to Ms. Jack. “We look forward to attending the unveiling ceremony to not only see the finished product, but to congratulate the many families who will become new homeowners. It is truly a rewarding experience had by all,” she said.
The work on behalf of Hartford Area HFH is an outgrowth of WSP USA’s long standing commitment to community service, according to Anthony Moretti, Connecticut area manager. “It is especially gratifying to see our employees’ continued commitment to community service. I congratulate the HFH team for dedicating the time and effort to provide something very special to six families in our community.”
WSP USA, formerly WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, provides a wide range of planning, program management, engineering, and construction management services to communities across Connecticut. The firm draws on the multidisciplinary skills of a local staff of 75 professionals backed by the resources of a global engineering and professional services firm with a 132-year history of delivering projects that address the economic, social, and environmental goals of its clients. WSP USA offers clients context-sensitive solutions that respond to community concerns, integrate land use and transportation, reinforce a sense of place, and balance development with the conservation of natural resources.
About WSP USA
WSP USA, formerly WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, is the U.S. operating company of one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms—WSP. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment sectors. With nearly 7,000 people in 100 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. www.wsp.com