Every woman can make an impact. For 15 years, Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties has been celebrating Women Build, an initiative that helps women provide safe homes for their families.
Becky Lucas and Stefanie Underwood joined Gulf Coast News to explain how this effort is helping female-led families build a stronger future.
Since 2011, Women Build in Lee and Hendry counties has partnered with 30 female-headed families to build strength and stability for their children through local fundraising and volunteer efforts. Female-headed households made up 81% of last year’s homebuyers. By recruiting, educating and inspiring women, Habitat for Humanity helps transform lives in our communities.
The fundraiser goal for Women Build is $600,000, and Habitat for Humanity has announced that it has reached its goal. The funds raised this year will cover the construction costs of a new affordable home for this year’s Women Build homebuyer, a single mom caring for her two teenagers, and home-building efforts for other female-led households.
In addition to putting in 300 hours of sweat equity into building their own homes, Habitat homebuyers contribute to the closing costs, attend more than 20 hours of financial education classes and pay an affordable mortgage set at no more than 30% of their monthly income.
Although the 2025 Women Build season has ended, people still have the opportunity to get involved and support Habitat for Humanity’s home-building efforts by becoming a volunteer or project sponsor.
For more information, visit Habitat4Humanity.org/WomenBuild .
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