Topeka Habitat has partnered with Braided Haven Inc. to host our inaugural Pride Build. Pride Build is a fun way for members and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community to come together to celebrate diversity, learn new skills, and make an important statement about the fundamental human right of a safe, decent, affordable place to live for everyone, while supporting a local community organization.
Braided Haven Inc., is a Topeka based non-profit that provides a continuum of services for LGBTQ+ youth, some of whom face family rejection and are forced to leave their homes. Braided Haven ensures a welcoming, affirming, and safe space for the young LGBTQ+ population and addresses the whole person, taking into consideration all the young person’s experience and potential. This home will provide a safe place for LGBTQ+ adolescents experiencing homelessness to live. It will provide residents an opportunity to embrace
their identity, overcome the obstacles presented by housing insecurity, and thrive in a supportive environment.
“Braided Haven is honored to be selected by Topeka Habitat for their Pride Build project. This partnership is an outstanding example of community collaboration in our efforts to create a safe and affirming environment for our community’s vulnerable homeless LGBTQIA+ youth! We also wants to take this opportunity to publicly acknowledge and thank Murray’s Flooring for donating the flooring for this project, further demonstrating how the saying “it takes a village” truly works.”
Darin Stephens, Board Chair, Braided Haven.
More information on Braided Haven Inc.
Topeka Habitat will host four volunteer shifts at the house recently purchased by Braided Haven Inc., to serve as a transitional home. More than 50 volunteers that have signed up over the course of the two-day event will begin to transform this house into a welcoming and safe home. “We are looking forward to collaborating on this project and putting our Topeka Habitat for Humanity skills to use serving this important organization. We believe that everyone deserves a safe place to call home and we hope that this event will help meet the needs of LGBTQ+ youth facing homelessness in our community. We invite members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies to help us build an inclusive community where every individual and family has the opportunity to obtain fair and equitable housing,” said Nikki MacMillan, COO,Topeka Habitat for Humanity.
To sign-up to volunteer, visit https://www.topekahabitat.org/events. The three-day event will conclude with a Pride Picnic on Sunday, June 25 th hosted by First Congregational Church to thank the volunteers and celebrate Pride Month.
Many thanks to the sponsors and community partners that made this event possible:
First Congregational Church, Meadowlark Graphics, Stone and Story Realty, Jamie Hornbaker- State Farm Agent, Sharp Plumbing, Murray’s Flooring, Kansas Rebuilders, Sisters in Solidarity, Grace Cathedral, the Braiden Haven Board of Directors, and the Topeka Habitat DEIB Committee.
and then