Building homes and hopes
Dual wall raisings in Ocala see the return of the local Habitat for Humanity Women Build initiative.
Kelly Snipes, Sarah Cooke and Melanie Moyse, left to right, help raise a wall on the Realtor Build home as Jeff Ruttenber, the senior project manager for Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, far left, helps them guide the wall in place during the Habitat for Humanity of Marion County dual wall raisings on Northwest 14th Street in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.
Wednesday morning brought bright skies and a sea of hot pink T-shirts and hard hats for future homeowner Britney Mann.
Habitat for Humanity of Marion County conducted side-by-side wall raisings for Mann through a Women Build project and for Curtis and Christina Jones in a Realtor Build initiative. Both events included plenty of helping hands and lifted prayers.
According to Carmen Garcia Tirado, development events manager for the local habitat affiliate, the Women Build relaunched this year, after a nearly 20-year hiatus, with a goal of raising $75,000 to fund Mann’s new home and some hands-on muscle to help build it.
For Britney, the wall raising marks the first visible step toward a dream she has had for years. A proud Ocala native and a certified nursing assistant at Avante at Ocala, she has poured her energy into caring for others, Tirado stated via email.
“She is the dedicated mother of three children: Jada, 13; Caiden, 12; and Caleb. For more than a decade, the family has crowded into a small two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment where all three children share a bedroom. Now, thanks to the Women Build initiative—relaunched in Marion County for the first time in nearly 20 years—Britney is building a safe, stable and healthy home where her children can grow and thrive,” Tirado noted.
“Women Build is about more than constructing walls—it’s about breaking down barriers. This movement empowers women to lead, to learn and to lift each other up while changing the future of a local family,” Rob Peters, president/CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, stated via email.
According to the national Habitat website, since 1991, Habitat’s Women Build volunteers have come together from all walks of life to build stronger, safer communities. Women Build opportunities are available across the U.S. and any woman or person who wants to learn how to build or repair a home is invited to join.
Tirado said the Jones’ have “built their lives in Ocala, raising a blended family of six children and celebrating the joy of 11 grandchildren.”
“But the home they’ve lived in for the past decade has been plagued with problems: windows that won’t open, leaky ceilings and an air conditioning unit that struggles year after year. Despite these hardships, Curtis and Christina have devoted their lives to serving others through ministry and community outreach. The Realtor Build, made possible through the Ocala/Marion County Association of Realtors, is giving them the chance to create something they’ve long given to others: a safe and welcoming place to gather,” Tirado wrote.
“Two homes, built together on the same day, represent more than walls and roofs—they represent opportunity and stability,” Peters offered. “Bringing together Women Build and Realtor Build in unison demonstrates the strength of community partnerships in addressing the critical need for affordable housing.”
Since 1990, Habitat for Humanity of Marion County has built 249 homes for families in need of safe, affordable housing.
To learn more, go to habitatocala.org
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