HomeAid and Fort Bend Women’s Center celebrate campus expansion

On Oct. 5, representatives from HomeAid Houston, Fort Bend Women’s Center, and Builder Captain Wamhoff Development gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting of a new 3,225 square-foot fourplex.

This new fourplex will provide permanent supportive housing for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse and trafficking.

Having completed a construction project in Phase 1 of Fort Bend Women’s Center’s multiple phase expansion in 2020, HomeAid Houston returned for this $1.2M Phase II project, part of an 11-building campus expansion.

Left to right are: Carole Brady, (HomeAid Houston, E.D.), David Bozeman (Wamhoff Design/Build), Greg Wamhoff (Wamhoff Development, President), Vita Goodell (Fort Bend Women’s Center, E.D.), Theresa Meyer (Wamhoff Development), Mike Dishberger (GHBA President), and Dillon Scherer (Wamhoff Design/Build).

Fort Bend County is among the fastest-growing counties in the United States. In 2021, there were 4,305 reported incidents of family violence in Fort Bend County.

When survivors access emergency shelter and are ready to move on to independence, they face barriers to securing affordable housing.

A study of residents in domestic violence shelters nationwide found that 84 percent of survivors needed help finding affordable housing.

Fort Bend Women’s Center provides free, integral support services for domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking survivors.

The agency offers 24-hour emergency shelter and a crisis hotline, as well as long-term support services. The agency’s programming focuses on healing the trauma of their abuse and moving forward to live independently, free of violence and fear.

At the ribbon cutting, HomeAid Houston’s Board Member Scott Black with David Weekley Homes emphasized the importance of the event.

“Today is an important day to celebrate for a few reasons,” Black said. “First, this is the second partnership between Fort Bend Women’s and HomeAid with future projects already in discussion. Second, this marks a wave of additional support and capacity for other nonprofits, like Fort Bend Women’s, as HomeAid came out of the pandemic with one active project, and we currently have eight ongoing projects. Lastly, and most importantly, there are now approximately a dozen women and children who have a safe and comfortable place to sleep tonight at Fort Bend Women’s Center.

“We could not have done this without Greg Wamhoff, David Bozeman and the Wamhoff Development team. We look forward to continuing our partnership with them as well as Fort Bend Women’s Center.”

Andrienne Wamhoff of Wamhoff Development team shared their motivation to volunteer as Builder Captains for the project.

“Wamhoff chose to become a Builder Captain with HomeAid Houston because we believe in the power of collective efforts to create positive change,” Andrienne said. “Contributing our skills and time to meaningful projects not only uplifts the community but also fosters a sense of purpose and connection among everyone involved. Knowing that these homes will provide a safe place for those in need reaffirms the incredible potential we have to make a difference, one brick a time.”

HomeAid Houston, a 501(c)(3) charity of the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA), is dedicated to helping people experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through construction, community engagement, and education.

HomeAid’s core construction programs facilitate the construction/renovation of homeless shelters utilizing the pro bono construction resources of members of the GHBA and its trades to save homeless service providers from 45%-100% of construction costs. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, HomeAid Houston has completed 77 projects which house over 5,000 homeless men, women, and children annually.

For more information about HomeAid Houston visit www.homeaidhouston.org or call 281-970-8970. For more information about Fort Bend Women’s Center visit online at www.fbwc.org. For assistance with a domestic violence situation, Fort Bend Women’s Center’s 24-Hour Hotline is 281-342-HELP (4357).