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Habitat for Humanity is hosting its first-ever Women’s Empowerment Week from Nov. 12-16. The weeklong event features three days of building and volunteering events for women as well as female-focused brand representation, and opportunities for networking among people with similar passions for giving back and bettering Detroit.

Women’s Empowerment Week with Habitat Detroit is presented by Carhartt with additional generous sponsorship from Brasscraft. Further event support is being provided by Walker Miller, Detroit’s Future is Female, Red Ants Pants, and Rebel Nell.

All three days of the event take place on Maryland St. in Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood. This block of homes has undergone a major transformation over the past few years, thanks largely to multiple home restorations and new homes being built through Habitat Detroit’s Homeownership Program.

On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday of next week volunteers will gather at Habitat Detroit’s latest home renovation project to prepare the home for its new first-time homeowner. The week will wrap up on Saturday with additional volunteer support from teens with the Rhonda Walker Foundation.

“We are thrilled to be able to celebrate the strength, resilience, and creativity of women through this new project,” said Mary Ellen Kearney, Director of Philanthropy at Habitat Detroit. “Our goal is to inspire more women to join us on build sites, support those who aspire to pursue careers in the trades, and ensure that current and future homeowners feel supported throughout all stages of their homeownership journey. At Habitat Detroit we want to build a future where women thrive, homes flourish, and dreams become reality. We are eagerly looking forward to seeing the incredible outcome this year’s project will bring.”

Funds Support Non-Profit’s “Return Home Safe” Program

Habitat for Humanity Detroit is re-launching the Return Home Safe (RHS) program thanks to a grant from the National Council on Aging (NCOA). This program aims to reduce the risk for at-home falls for eligible low-income older adults. RHS operates as a partnership between Habitat for Humanity Detroit and Henry Ford Health.

Eligible participants in Return Home Safe are 55 or older, own their own home, and are considered at-risk for falls by Henry Ford Health’s Mobile Integrated Health team. Home improvements made under RHS include installing grab bars and handrails, leveling uneven floors or stairs, clearing out walkways, improving lighting options, supplying and installing raised toilet seats, and additional situational safety improvements to homes.

In total, 111 households participated in the initial round of Return Home Safe improvements and resulted in reduced numbers of emergency department visits and hospitalizations due to a fall. Additionally, 95% of participants reported that the program had reduced their fear of falling at home.

The re-launch of RHS comes thanks to a grant from the National Council on Aging, which works to improve the lives of older adults. According to the NCOA, 60% of falls happen in the home and more than one quarter of adults over the age of 65 have reported falling at least once in the last year. Habitat Detroit’s Return Home Safe program targets key areas of improvement in the household outlined by the NCOA as most likely to pose a fall-risk.