Women Build: A Tradition of Empowerment

At Asheville Habitat, there are female volunteers and staff on the jobsite every day.

This is due in part to an overarching shift in the industry and to Habitat’s Women Build (WB) program.

Habitat for Humanity recruits, educates, and nurtures women to build and advocate for affordable houses in their communities.

Women Build is a project of Habitat for Humanity International with the goal of helping Habitat affiliates recruit, educate, and nurture women to build—and advocate for—affordable houses in their communities. The very first Asheville Habitat Women Build House was completed in 1994, and cost $40,000 to build. Buncombe County Women Attorneys took the lead in raising funds and providing volunteers to construct the home, which became home to an all-women family spanning five generations. Completed in 2007, the second was one was led by a group of women executives from Mission Hospital. Since then, every 1-2 years, Asheville Habitat has built a Women Build House.

Today, there is a leadership team made up of women who have become passionate about the WB program. Donning the moniker WomBATs—for Women Build Advocacy Team, they raise funds and recruit volunteers, and of course help build the house.

Women Build House #21 will be located in Glenn Bridge, an Arden community comprised of detached single-family homes, two-story townhomes, and single-level Aging in Place homes. Construction starts in May and volunteers are needed to help build it. No construction experience needed! Bring your friends, family, coworkers, or come solo and help build an affordable home. You will learn new skills, meet new people, and leave feeling tired, but with the good feeling that you are making a difference in your community.

Be part of Women Build this year by volunteering or donating and help solve the local affordable housing crisis—one family at a time.

Learn more and sign up at ashevillehabitat.org/volunteer.