INDIANAPOLIS, March 6, 2023 – Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity launched the 2023 Women Build, celebrating a decade of women empowering women. Throughout this multi-month initiative, more than 500 women will build two homes in partnership with the future homeowners and raise funds to support affordable housing. Since 2014, Women Build, Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity’s largest individual fundraising campaign, has raised $1.4 million and built 12 homes. To commemorate its 10th anniversary, the goal is to raise $350,000 through Women Build in 2023, its highest annual fundraising goal to date.
“Too many members of our community are housing cost-burdened, paying 50% or more of their income on housing,” said Abri Hochstetler, Vice President of Development & Communications for Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity. “Women Build increases much-needed awareness of this issue and empowers women from all walks of life to be part of the solution by creating more affordable housing.”
When Women Build started in 2014, Habitat’s cost of building a new home was around $70,000. Today, that’s closer to $180,000. The rising costs make housing affordability for members of the community more challenging. This year, Women Build will construct two homes with the 2023 homebuyers: the Jones family and the Kendrick family.
The Jones Family
Latrina (Trina) has two daughters, Taniya (20) and Raeya (12). After dealing with tough relationships and family deaths, Trina is looking forward to providing stability for her family through homeownership. She currently works for Republic Services and plans to finish her bachelor’s degree in order to become a juvenile corrections counselor. She also plans to start investing in college savings for Raeya.
The Kendrick Family
Dashay (Shay) is mom to two young sons; Daniel (6) and Dior (2). She works for Ascension St. Vincent Hospital as a patient monitor. Shay and her boys have been living in an apartment where, in addition to dealing with theft and insufficient maintenance, she also fears her children playing outside. She shared, “My goal is to make sure my boys can go outside and play…and to have them feel safe again.”
Trina and Shay have completed classes to prepare them for successful homeownership and will be involved in building their homes. Like all Greater Indy Habitat homes, Women Build homes are sold with 0% interest mortgages so they are affordable to families, empowering them to build equity and find stability. The mortgage payments cycle back into the community to help build more affordable housing.
Building will commence on Saturday, April 15 and continue through July with a home dedication to follow. To learn more about Women Build, visit indyhabitat.org/women-build. To donate, visit indyhabitat.org/wb. To get involved, contact womenbuild@indyhabitat.org.
About Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. We envision a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Since 1987 Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity has helped more than 1,600 families globally relocate from substandard and poverty housing into decent and affordable homes. More than 1,000 of these homeowners are here in our community of Greater Indianapolis, including the 14 Women Build homeowners, and 580 homeowners are in Central America. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. The foundations laid by Habitat go far beyond the physical structure of a home. Habitat for Humanity builds strength, stability, and independence through homeownership. To learn more or get involved, visit indyhabitat.org.
