What is Women Build?

The Habitat for Humanity Women Build program recruits, educates, and encourages women to build and advocate for decent and affordable houses in their communities.

Since 2014, hundreds of women have brought in more than $2.2 million dollars to fund and build 16 homes, alongside 16 Habitat homebuyers

Phases of Women Build

Phase One

Team Leader Recruitment & Training

October-January

Each fall, Habitat recruits 60+ women to serve as team leaders. These team leaders are the foundation to the Women Build project. Team leaders are the first to sign up to participate and are the primary source for support, inquiries and information for their team. Team Leader Orientation is held in January.

Phase Two

Builder Recruitment & Initial Fundraising

February

Team leaders recruit a group of women to join their team as builders. Each builder raises a minimum of $350 to help fund the project and volunteers with her team on one build day to help construct the home.

Phase Three

Fundraising

March-May

Once registered, builders begin their fundraising efforts via peer-to-peer fundraising. Some teams choose to host team fundraising events to help them reach and exceed their goal.

Phase Four

Build Day

May-July

Construction of the build begins in April/May and finishes in June/July. Each team will volunteer on their chosen build day from 8:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. The construction tasks vary by day. No experience is necessary, and all volunteers must be at least 16 years of age.

Phase Five

Home Dedication

July-August

At the end of construction, we invite and encourage all builders, donors, family and friends to join us for a Home Dedication Celebration. This is an opportunity to see the homebuyers with their families and tour the completed homes with your teammates and fellow builders.

Ways to Participate in Women Build

Team Leader

Team leaders are the first to sign up to participate and recruit a group of women to join their team as builders. They are the primary resource for support, inquiries and information for their team.

Builder

Each builder raises a minimum of $350 to help fund the project and volunteers with her team on one build day to help construct the home.

Ambassador

Women Build Ambassadors support the builders and their efforts to raise funds, build homes, and advocate for the mission of Habitat to bring people together through in-kind donations. Please contact womenbuild@indyhabitat.org or jenniedwards@gmail.com.

Women Build Advocate

Anyone is invited to Follow us on social and help spread the mission by using #IndyWomenBuild.

Committee Member

The Women Build committee is a group of active and past builders who work year-round assisting Habitat staff in event coordination and build operations to ensure a successful build and experience for everyone involved.

Coach

Each coach works with 3-5 team leaders to help guide them along the way by answering questions, providing helpful ideas and ensuring they are aware of and meet all necessary deadlines throughout the build.

Why is this Build important?

Women Build is a unique Habitat event where women volunteers from all walks of life not only build but also raise the funds, as build days are entirely supported by their peer-to-peer fundraising efforts, not sponsors. Women volunteers from all walks of life work together to both raise the funds and raise the walls for the entire Women Build project.

According to data from the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, the homeownership rate for Indianapolis is 54%—substantially lower than the state (69%) and national (64%) levels. With the rise in construction costs and housing prices over the past few years, these rates may only worsen, causing housing affordability to slip even farther away for more people. Additionally, women make up 50% of Habitat for Humanity International’s volunteer force; yet often because of lack of training, they account for less than 15% of workers on the construction site. The Women Build program is one meaningful solution to both of these problems.