Women Build FAQ

• Why have Women Build?  Can’t women learn construction on a regular Habitat site?
• How can I get involved with the Women Build program?
• Why are you excluding men?  Is there a “Men Build” department, too?
• Why is Habitat promoting feminist issues?
• How do homeowners feel about their homes being built by women?
• What do you do if there is a male homeowner?

Why have Women Build? Can’t women learn construction on a regular Habitat site?

Construction is a male-dominated field. Even on the more “forgiving” Habitat sites, men still take the lead in construction, and women are relegated — sometimes due to their own lack of confidence — to tasks such as painting, landscaping, and cleaning up the site. But on a Women Build site, women feel more comfortable and are willing to tackle all aspects of construction and, given the right training, quickly become skilled.  [back to FAQ]

How can I get involved with the Women Build program?

Contact the Women Build Volunteer Chair, Emily Krug at portland.womenbuild@gmail.com!  [back to FAQ]

Why are you excluding men? Is there a “Men Build” department, too?

Actually, men are often involved in our projects as instructors or in support roles. And Women Build is not about excluding men. It is about including women and opening a door of opportunity so they can discover their capacity to build homes to move children out of poverty.  [back to FAQ]

Why is Habitat promoting feminist issues?

Our only agenda is working toward the elimination of poverty housing —  one home, one family at a time. The focus of Women Build is on empowering women to take action to move children out of poverty. Women Build brings together women from all walks of life to address in a concrete way the children’s housing crisis that is facing more than 12 million children. Women Build subscribes totally to our stated mission: to nurture, recruit, and train women to build simple, decent, healthy and affordable homes.  [back to FAQ]

How do homeowners feel about their homes being built by women?

Most homeowners are excited by the idea. Sometimes male homeowners are a bit apprehensive at first, but after construction gets under way, we find they have every confidence in the quality of their home’s construction and have great respect and gratitude for the women volunteers.  [back to FAQ]

What do you do if there is a male homeowner?

Male homeowners build right alongside the women volunteers.  [back to FAQ]