SheBuilds Rebuild Empowers Spectrum Volunteers in New York

Recently as part of the Spectrum Housing Assist program, volunteers joined forces to revitalize the Sarah Powell Huntington House (SPHH) in New York City for a special SheBuildsevent. Together with our national partner Rebuilding Together and other corporate sponsors, more than 100 volunteers completed nearly 800 hours of service. The result was a safer and healthier living space for 75 residents.

“We are a company that cares about the communities we serve and through this initiative [we] hopefully demonstrate that,” said David Ellen, Charter’s Senior Executive Vice President.

Sarah Powell Huntington House Is a Safe Haven for Residents

Here’s a look at the entrance to the Sarah Powell Huntington House in New York City.

Since 1993, SPHH has served as a residence to formerly incarcerated women on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Helping them reunify with their children, SPHH is home to 39 mothers. Half of them are awaiting the return of their children and the other half live with the children in their care.

While SPHH provides an essential and supportive environment for these women and their children, critical repairs and renovations were needed to make the building a safe and healthy home for its residents. Four years after Superstorm Sandy struck the east coast, SPHH still contained mold and had numerous cosmetic issues. The weekend’s efforts helped bring the building back to working order.

Women Help Women During SheBuilds Event

Spectrum employee Kathy Hernandez paints a resident’s door as part of the SheBuilds event in New York City.

SheBuilds is a nationwide volunteer event series, for and by women, providing critical home repairs and community restoration to create real change for women in need. Partnering with the national Rebuilding Together office and its local affiliate Rebuilding Together New York City, Spectrum employees and other volunteers transformed dull walls into bright white with colorful accents. Repairs to the child care room made the space more inviting for SPHH’s youngest residents.

“Knowing that I can do more, further than simply delivering [our] product, is amazing,” said Spectrum employee Kathy Hernandez. “It’s more than Spectrum – we’re making a difference in the community.”

Residents Are Wowed by the Work

Once the repairs were complete, residents were astounded by the changes.

“It looks so much better, the lobby colors,” said resident Jessica. “It helps, it helps. You know what I mean, it doesn’t feel like an institution [any]more.”