Every year, the Habitat for Humanity Marist Women Build aims to make homeownership more accessible for families in need.

In 2001, the women of Marist School partnered with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity to form the first all-female high school build in the country.

Cathy Belatti has played a vital role in the development of the Marist Women Build. Commenting on the personal rewards of the build, Belatti said, “The biggest impact was seeing homeowners with incredible joy when they finally reach their dream come true.”

Cathy has been apart of this inspiring team for 25 years and has remained committed to the community, even throughout the pandemic. Since its founding, 26 homes have been built with the help of more than 200 volunteers.

Each project typically includes eight build days of seven hours each, and volunteers raise around $90,000 each year to make these builds possible.

This experience also allows students to develop leadership skills while directly serving families in their community. This year, students, volunteers, and leaders worked side by side to construct a home for a woman named Tia.

Tia was selected this year as the 26th homeowner of the Marist Women Build. Homeowners are required to complete home maintenance classes, including plumbing and electrical in order to care for their houses long-term.

In addition, selected partners contribute 250 hours of working alongside volunteers to help build their homes, and this lengthy process demonstrates their dedication and commitment.

Habitat for Humanity currently operates in more than 70 countries and has helped over 65 million people improve their living conditions since 1976. Its mission is to eliminate systemic barriers that prevent low-income and historically underserved families from accessing adequate, affordable housing.

The Marist Women Build program continues this mission by encouraging women to build strength, stability, and independence through homeownership.