For the past few weekends, a handful of kindhearted volunteers have shown up to a patch of land in southeast Austin to help, literally, raise the roof of one Austinite's dreams.

These folks are with the Austin Pride Build, the first-ever Habitat for Humanity project orchestrated by an LGBT community in Texas. Recently, they were honored as a Critics Pick for "Best Hammers of Justice" in this year's Best of Austin poll.

"We're proud that Austin would be the first place in Texas where a community of LGBT citizens would come out to build a house [and] give back to the community that has accepted diversity in such a welcoming way," said Michael Kellerman, project coordinator for this year's build.

Pride Build's first home recipient is 64-year-old Marta, a napkin presser at a local laundry facility who's spent the past eight years living in a rundown rental home on the eastside. "It's hard to imagine someone living there," reads their website. "[There are] broken windows, rotted floorboards and cracks in the ceiling so wide that Marta has stuffed towels in them to soak up the rain which drips onto her kitchen light bulb."

Like all Habitat for Humanity beneficiaries, Marta has contributed her own "sweat equity" — physical labor on other HFH homes — of over 400 hours, and will be taking several home buyer education classes before she takes ownership of the house. If all goes well, she hopes to move in before Christmas.

Austin Pride Build is well on its way to finishing the project, but would doubtless appreciate any and all help from the community—gay or straight. For volunteer opportunities or to donate a little bit to fund the construction, email 'em at austinpridebuild@gmail.com. You can also keep up with their weekly progress on their blog.

[austinpridebuild.blogspot.com]
[austinpridebuild.org]