Cleveland Building Trades to Build Habitat House: Foundation Donates $25,000 to Cause

Groundbreaking Ceremony to construct an all-union Habitat for Humanity house in Cleveland, funded in part by a donation from the Cleveland Building Trades Foundation. with [left to right] U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge, Precision Environmental Co. President Tony DiGeronimo, Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Cleveland), Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, Dave Wondolowski, Executive Secretary of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council and County Councilwoman Meredith Turner (District 9)

Affiliated members of the Cleveland Building Trades were on-hand April 18 for a groundbreaking ceremony to construct an all-union Habitat for Humanity house in Cleveland, funded in part by a donation from the Cleveland Building Trades Foundation.

The $25,000 donation by the CBTF marks a significant investment in not only the project, but also the Greater Buckeye neighborhood, where the house will be built.

This fully funded, all-union construction build is a first for Cleveland Habitat. It will be the 14th Habitat house on Grandview Avenue and the 83rd Habitat house constructed in the Greater Buckeye area since 2016, but the first all-union house to be constructed.

According to its website, Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity works to revitalize Cuyahoga County neighborhoods and help local hard-working, low-income families help themselves create strength, stability and self-reliance.

Since its founding in 1987, Greater Cleveland Habitat has helped 275 families sign a mortgage. The families demonstrate a willingness to invest sweat equity into the construction or rehabilitation of homes and also participate in required homeowner education classes.

According to Dave Wondolowski, Executive Secretary of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council, the credit for coordinating the project goes to area union contractors.

“The contractors are actually leading the effort,” he said. “We will do the work as their employees.”

On a rainy mid-April day, Wondolowski joined a large group of Construction Employers Association contractors, as well as various local and federal officials, for a groundbreaking ceremony.

Others in attendance included Cleveland native and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge, Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Cleveland), Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin, Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity President/CEO John Habat, Precision Environmental Co. President Tony DiGeronimo and Construction Employers Association CEO Tim Linville.

Brown said the project is a result of collaboration – with construction unions working together to revitalize Cleveland and help a family.

The affiliated CBCTC Locals have not worked on a Habitat home before, but Wondolowski pointed out they have participated in multiple other volunteer projects throughout the years rehabbing homes for people in need.

For decades, the Cleveland Building Trades and its affiliated Locals have given back to the community.

From small projects such as helping military veterans or installing new faucets in a woman’s home, to much larger projects like building a park, the Brothers and Sisters have unselfishly given their time and talent in order to make the Greater Cleveland region a better place to live.

This project is not only another way to do that, but also a chance to show area residents how union tradesmen and tradeswomen are part of the community, as well as discuss opportunities to join the union building trades.