2021 Knoxville Women Build Celebrates Empowering Women

Sponsors and volunteers of Knoxville Habitat for Humanity’s annual event begin building the first of two homes with a local nurse and her family.

Volunteers and sponsors of primarily women join Knoxville Habitat for Humanity and future homeowner Diane Latimore to raise the walls of Latimore’s affordable home as 2021 Women Build begins on Saturday, June 26. This annual event empowers women to advocate for affordable housing and spotlights the homeownership challenges faced by many women, especially following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Women are invited to raise funding to help build the home and devote at least one day volunteering on a Women Build site.

This year’s Women Build theme is “Empowered Women Empower Women,” and the 2021 Women Build homes are being built in memory of Dr. Veda Maxwell Bateman. Thanks to a generous gift made in memory of Dr. Bateman’s legacy, every donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000. Dr. Bateman devoted her life to helping others through volunteer service. She served in Europe during World War II and in Korea, supporting American troops, and Dr. Bateman volunteered through various organizations serving children and families. She was recognized for her community service and as a woman of leadership.

Latimore is a third-shift LPN who cares for patients with intellectual disabilities. She originally took the third-shift position to go back to school and become an RN but had to step away from continuing education due to critical health challenges. While going through three separate brain surgeries to become healthy again, she opened both her home and her heart to her aging mother in need of care and her son’s best friend after he recently lost his own mother and needed a place to live.

“Latimore is an inspirational woman who embodies strength and love. She’s worked so hard not only to provide for others as a mother, daughter and in her essential nursing role, but also as a future Habitat homeowner earning her 500 sweat equity hours in the Knoxville Habitat for Humanity program. Now, we are all excited to surround her with strong and caring women who are ready to help her build a safe and affordable home,” says Knoxville Habitat President/CEO Kelle Shultz.

Construction of the second Women Build home begins in August.

The 2021 Knoxville Habitat Women Build is sponsored by volunteers and supporters as well as sponsors including Broadway Carpets & Flooring, Junior League of Knoxville, Centrus Energy, Testament Group, Team Foster HR Strategy, Westbrook Thermal Technology and Bobcat of Knoxville.

For more information on ways to support Women Build through donating, volunteering or sponsoring, visit KnoxvilleWomenBuild.com.

About Knoxville Habitat for Humanity

Knoxville Habitat for Humanity is an independent, non-profit, Christian housing ministry that partners with people of all beliefs. Knoxville Habitat has been an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International since 1985 and builds homes in partnership with families and individuals in need of a safe and affordable place to live. Knoxville Habitat also serves low-income seniors through critical home repair so they can live independently, more comfortably and more safely in their homes.

Families are very much invested in the process of buying their new homes, and they pay mortgages like anyone with a traditional home loan. In addition to their affordable mortgage, each family contributes 500 hours of sweat equity as a down payment before they can move in, most of which are spent in classes learning how to budget and become a responsible homeowner. Volunteers and future homeowners provide the labor in building the homes, while tax-deductible donations of money, land and materials are provided by individuals, organizations and corporations.

Knoxville Habitat is also a Veterans Build Affiliate with Habitat for Humanity International, part of a national effort to provide affordable homes for local men and women who have served our country, as well as a Cost of Home affiliate working toward policy solutions to address the need for home affordability in local communities, the state of Tennessee and nationwide.

Knoxville Habitat has worked with over 700 families in Knox County. For more information or to donate, visit knoxvillehabitat.com.