Community building.

By Emily Millen, VP, Human Resources, North America Consumer Banking September 03, 2010 10:57 AM

Some of my colleagues and I recently had the chance to participate in a special Habitat for Humanity build in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. As it was part of Citi's ongoing association with the Mets in their "Teammates in the Community" effort, we worked alongside Mets alumni to help low-income families in need of better housing.

Sue Andros, who is Co-Chair of the Citi Women's Network, 12 other Citi volunteers and I were put to work helping complete the conversion of four row houses into energy-efficient, affordable condominiums for 16 first-time homebuyers. With us were two of the future purchasers, who like all Habitat clients, are putting in some 300 to 600 hours of their own time on the build. When in place in their new homes, they won't be paying more than 33 percent of their household income on housing. They are also expected to realize savings, and even health benefits, from living in a space built with "green" materials, appliances and construction techniques.

Wearing hard hats and protective goggles, we learned how to measure, cut and nail sheet rock to create the foundation for a ceiling in each room. By the end, although covered in drywall dust and shoulders sore, we found the day memorable and fulfilling.

It is a great feeling to play a part in helping move people into more affordable and more sustainable housing. In connection with Habitat-NYC, Citi has participated in more than 15 home-building events in New York, with an average of 15 volunteers per build. But we're just a few of the thousands from institutions, schools and civic groups across the city helping Habitat address New York's affordable housing problem.

Emily Millen is VP, Human Resources, North America Consumer Banking and Co-Chair of Community Outreach for Citi's Women's Network NYC.