Habitat for Humanity works to ensure every woman has agency, equity, and a strong voice in her home and community.
Habitat for Humanity-Spokane invites individuals and community partners to join the Women Build event. The program provides comfortable environments and opportunities for women to take proactive steps in serving their communities. Our volunteers gain knowledge and skills they can use to repair and maintain their own homes. Every woman can make a difference by learning and using construction skills.
For over 20 years, the Women Build program with Habitat-Spokane has shone a light on how women face barriers in accessing consumer loans and other credit products, creating an impact that lasts over the woman’s lifetime. This year, Habitat for Humanity-Spokane will continue its efforts in breaking the bias still seen today.
“Supporting Women Build celebrates the work of our predecessors in the fight towards gender equality. It also reminds us that persistence remains our greatest tool when advocating for a future worthy of our daughters and granddaughters,” said Michelle Girardot, CEO for Habitat for Humanity-Spokane.
Habitat for Humanity understands that access to housing in the US is not an equal playing field. In addition to gender equity, they also work for racial, class, economic, health, and other forms of equity in housing.
Despite recent attention to equality, women still earn less than men, and that pay gap is even more significant for Black women who, on average, are paid 36% less than white men and 20% less than white women. The median income of households headed by women is almost $20,000 lower than those led by men. And while most people’s lives and work have been negatively affected by the pandemic, the magnitude of inequality is striking when looking at the impact it’s had on women overall. This crisis has also exacerbated deep, long-standing biases against Black women built into our systems. Beyond the pay gap, Black women are shouldering more responsibility at home with less financial security.
“Unfortunately, the pandemic has threatened our progress by disproportionately affecting women in the workforce, especially those in the BIPOC community. COVID-19’s disruption to employment, childcare, and school routines has hurt the economy and pushed millions of women and families to experience devastating housing insecurity,” said Girardot.
Habitat for Humanity-Spokane sees firsthand the endless possibilities when women unite behind a common cause.
They witness women challenging stereotypes and breaking down barriers every day. While Women Build focuses on the inclusion of women in the work of building homes, the initiative does not exclude volunteers of any gender or gender identity, nor does it promote discrimination of any kind. The goal of Women Build is to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness against bias, and take action for equality while providing opportunities for hands-on learning. Given these tools, women can succeed in changing their communities.
Whether purchasing a home, volunteering on-site, or donating, individuals support Habitat because they know the transformative power homeownership can have on a woman’s life and that of her family.
Supporting inclusion, diversity, and equity are long withstanding efforts that would not be possible without sponsors like Bank of America, who has been a critical supporter of Women Build in Spokane for the last five years.
“Habitat for Humanity-Spokane breaks down barriers and provides housing to those who need it most. As part of our longstanding commitment to advancing gender and racial equality and affordable homeownership, Bank of America is excited to support Habitat’s Women Build program again this year. Homeownership is a major milestone that empowers and equips women and families for success and stability. We encourage anyone interested in strengthening our community to share this opportunity with friends and family and to join us in supporting Habitat for Humanity-Spokane.” – Katherine Morgan, Bank of America, Spokane-Idaho Market Executive.
Other community partners that make efforts like Women Build possible include Nordstrom, Spokane Hardware Supply, Payne West Insurance, Kilgore Architectural Products, Central Pre-Mix a CRH Company, the National Association of Women in Construction, and the Inlander.
This year, Habitat-Spokane hopes that people will consider giving a gift during Women Build Month (March) so that they can continue to help our neighbors as they work toward homeownership and financial stability. Individual volunteers and groups are also encouraged to sign up for a Women Build shift to have fun while raising awareness of the challenges women face in accessing safe, affordable housing.
Women Build – March 16-19, 2022
DONATE – SIGN UP – LEARN MORE
Questions about Women Build?
509-534-2552 ext. 245
Empowering families to help themselves
Habitat for Humanity is a partnership — Habitat’s homeowner families buy the houses that Habitat builds and renovates.
Families that partner with Habitat-Spokane work hard to build a better life for themselves – and their children. Partner families spend 250 hours helping to build their own homes and take financial education classes (provided for free by Habitat), where they learn how to improve their credit, pay off debt, and save money. When they have completed the program requirements, they purchase their Habitat home at an affordable price – mortgage payments are never more than 30% of their income.
ABOUT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY-SPOKANE:
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity-Spokane began in 1987. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat-Spokane brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Families and individuals in need of a hand-up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Future Habitat homeowners work alongside volunteers, complete sweat equity, attend homebuyer workshops, save for closing costs, and pay an affordable mortgage. Habitat-Spokane is an equal opportunity housing provider.
Through financial support, volunteering, or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat-spokane.org and follow @HFHSpokane on Twitter and @HabitatSpokane on Facebook.
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