Mother battling breast cancer gets early Christmas gift: a home built by all-women team

December 23, 2024
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A single mother in Rochester can already picture what her future home will look like for Christmas. The home is getting built by a team of all women, and they all invited News10NBC’s Chief Investigative Reporter Berkeley Brean to the front door.


“Overwhelmed. Amazing. Proud,” Alex said, standing on the porch of her new home.


Alex is getting used to the view that will be her new home one block off East Main Street. For family reasons, they ask that we not share her last name.


“I never thought something like this would happen to me,” Alex said. “And because it has I just take everyday in.”


Inside she directed the women applying the first coat of paint in what will be her new living room. This is a Habitat for Humanity house, but it’s more than that. Just about everything was built by women.


Berkeley Brean, News10NBC: “What’s the pay off?”


Carolyn Whitfield, Women Build Program, Habitat for Humanity: “The pay off is we learn new skills. We’ve done everything on this house from the foundation to the framing to the siding to the flooring the finishing.”


Carolyn Whitfield helps run the Women Build Program. Women Build started in the late 90’s. Whitfield got started through her church ministry about 15 years ago. Now they pay for and build one house a year. This one is their 20th.


Carolyn Whitfield: “Well around Christmastime we’re always hoping that the house is finished enough that the family can picture themselves being in their for a holiday.”


Berkeley Brean: “Can you picture that Christmas will look like?”


Alex: “This is the picture for me. This is it for me. There’s nothing else I need to look at. There is nothing else I need to see because having this house is our gift.”


Berkeley Brean: “What difference is this going to make for you and your kids?”


Alex: “More love. More joy. More peace. And more fun.”


The rules are the homeowner has to do some of the labor. But get this, Alex is dealing with breast cancer right now and had surgery in November. So they let her supervise. It becomes her home early next year.


Original Article: https://www.whec.com/local/mother-battling-breast-cancer-gets-early-christmas-gift-a-home-built-by-all-women-team/

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Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity Appoints Kim Brumber as Chief Executive Officer

March 20, 2026
ROCHESTER, NY — Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity (GRHFH) has appointed Kim Brumber as its new Chief Executive Officer. She will officially begin her role on March 23, 2026. Brumber brings 27 years of executive leadership experience spanning nonprofit management, organizational transformation, executive coaching, and community development. She has served 23 years as a nonprofit executive, leading complex organizations through strategic growth, financial turnaround, and mission expansion. “I’m honored to lead an organization that recognizes homeownership as more than just having a roof over your head; it’s about creating stability and opportunity for individuals and families to thrive. It’s transformative,” said Brumber. “When we help someone become a homeowner, we’re not just handing them keys; we’re opening doors to better health, stronger communities, and brighter futures for themselves and their children. That’s the work that gets me up in the morning." Throughout her career, Brumber has led significant organizational transformations. She directed the merger of five companies into a sustainable enterprise, guided multiple turnaround efforts, and aligned people, strategy, and systems to strengthen long-term impact. She has raised more than $20 million in capital to create loan opportunities for high-risk borrowers and secured investors for a complex $56 million real estate development project. Her experience also includes oversight of multiple Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) developments. Brumber’s appointment signals a continued commitment to expanding access to safe, affordable homeownership across Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne Counties. Under her leadership, Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity will build on its strong foundation while advancing sustainable growth, financial strength, and long-term community impact. Original Article: https://rbj.net/2026/02/27/greater-rochester-habitat-ceo-kim-brumber/

Habitat for Humanity unveils first two-story modular home in Rochester

December 16, 2025
Rochester, N.Y. - The start of a new chapter of homeownership in the area. Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity celebrated Rochester's first two-story modular home on Friday in the Beechwood neighborhood. The nonprofit says the modular building process slashes construction time and costs, helping more families get safe and affordable homes faster. It also says frame-based house construction will continue, as it helps teach volunteers valuable technical skills. Original Article: https://13wham.com/news/local/habit-for-humanity-unveils-first-two-story-modular-home-in-rochester

Buy the Block housing initiative: Second phase completed

June 24, 2025
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Friday, the City of Rochester’s Mayor Malik Evans celebrated the second phase of the Buy the Block Housing Initiative with a ribbon cutting.
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