Habitat for Humanity & South Shore Roller Derby Join Forces to Empower Women Through Women Build Get HELP with DEBT

Habitat for Humanity and South Shore Roller Derby has announced a new partnership aimed at empowering women and helping to provide affordable housing solutions in the local community. This collaboration is part of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build initiative, which focuses on engaging women in the construction of safe and affordable homes for families in need.

The partnership will involve members of South Shore Roller Derby volunteering their time and skills to assist in the construction of a Habitat for Humanity home in Lake County, Indiana. The Women Build program provides an opportunity for women to take an active role in the construction process and develop new skills while also helping to provide a safe and decent home for a local family in need.

“We are thrilled to partner with South Shore Roller Derby for Women Build,” said Dawn Michaels, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana. “Their dedication to supporting women and building strong, inclusive communities is exactly what Women Build is all about. We believe that by working together, we can create a better future for women and families in our community.”

Through this partnership, members of South Shore Roller Derby will volunteer their time and skills to help build homes in the community. They will also work to raise funds and awareness for Women Build, helping to ensure that everyone has a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home. South Shore Roller Derby is hosting three bouts and encourages attendees to make a donation to Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana. The bouts are scheduled on March 11th at the Hammond Civic Center, doors open at 5 pm and the bout starts at 5:30 pm. The remaining bouts are scheduled for June 24 in Crown Point at Bull Dog Park, and September 16 at Urschel

Pavillion in Valparaiso, times to be announced soon.

“South Shore Roller Derby is proud to support Women Build and the mission of Habitat for Humanity,” said Ellen Kapitan, Board President of South Shore Roller Derby. “We are excited to work alongside women in our community to build homes and build a better future. Roller derby is all about empowering women, and we are thrilled to extend that empowerment to the construction site.”

The partnership between Habitat for Humanity and South Shore Roller Derby is a testament to the power of community and the importance of empowering women. Together, these organizations will make a real difference in the lives of families in Lake County, Indiana.

For more information about Women Build, visit NWIHabitat.org/ WomenBuild. To learn more about South Shore Roller Derby and its schedule, visit SouthShoreRollerDerby.org/current-season.

About Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana

Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana is the leading organization that provides permanent, affordable housing to income-qualified families in Lake County, Indiana. By serving qualified homeowners with an affordable mortgage, we help families achieve housing stability and improve their living conditions.

About South Shore Roller Derby

The South Shore Roller Derby, Inc. (SSRD) is a competitive Flat Track Roller Derby League and 501(c)3 nonprofit in Northwest Indiana. SSRD strives to improve individual athleticism, character, and community while promoting team unity. Members of SSRD are dedicated to community outreach through events, activities, and volunteerism.

If you’re getting closer to retirement, you might be thinking more about Social Security. Specifically, can you count on it to contribute part of the income you’ll need as a retiree?

There’s been an increase in alarming language surrounding the solvency of Social Security, but in reality, its prospects are not nearly as gloomy as you might have heard.

Here’s the story: Under current law, Social Security is estimated to exhaust its trust funds by 2035, after which benefits could be cut by 20%, according to the 2022 Social Security Trustees report. However, the large cost of living adjustment (COLA) (8.7%) for 2023 could cause the trust funds to use up their resources sooner.

But this outlook may represent a worstcase scenario. For one thing, the cost of the 2023 COLA will be somewhat offset by higher taxes on workers contributing to Social Security. The maximum amount of earnings subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax jumped from $147,000 in 2022 to $160,200 in 2023. And in looking down the road, further increases in this earnings cap may also help reduce the gap in the trust funds. Increasing the payroll tax is another possibility for boosting funding to Social Security.

And here’s a political reality: Social Security is a popular program and it’s unlikely that any future Congress wants to be blamed for reducing benefits. Of course, there are no guarantees, but it seems fair to say that you can reasonably expect some benefits from Social Security when you retire.

But perhaps the bigger issue is just how much you should depend on Social Security for your retirement income. On average, Social Security benefits will provide about 30% of a beneficiary’s preretirement earnings, according to the Social Security Administration. But the higher your earnings before you retire, the lower the percentage that will be replaced by Social Security.

Still, you’ll want to maximize the benefits that are available to you — and that means deciding when to start taking Social Security. You can begin as early as 62, but your monthly payments could be as much as 30% lower than your normal (or “full”) retirement age, which will likely be between 66 and 67.

Even if you were to wait until your full retirement age before collecting Social Security, you’ll also need to draw on other sources of funding. So, while you are still working, it’s a good idea to keep contributing to your IRA and 401(k) or other employersponsored retirement plan.

The amount you contribute should depend on your overall financial strategy and your financial needs, so, for example, you probably shouldn’t put in so much into your retirement accounts that you feel significant stress in your monthly cash flow. But when you do get a chance to invest more in these accounts, such as when your salary goes up, you may want to take advantage of the opportunity.

Ultimately, you should be able to count on Social Security as part of your retirement income. You may want to consult with a financial professional to determine when taking Social Security makes the most sense for you and how you can also get the most from your other retirement accounts. You’ll want a retirement income strategy that’s built for the long run.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Patrick Zamkin, located at 18735 Dixie Hwy, Homewood, IL 60430. Contact us at (708) 798-9066. Edward Jones. Member SIPC.