These Fishers women take on a ‘male-dominated’ industry for a good cause

INDIANAPOLIS — It was a conveyor belt of building site activity in a neighborhood on the south side of Indianapolis. Picking up, carrying, and dropping sod with laughter and conversation in between. Over two dozen volunteers were covered in sweat and mud last Friday as they helped to finish building two Habitat for Humanity homes.

Two families are about to become new homeowners by the end of the month thanks to dedicated work from women within the Fisher's Police Department.

"For my generation, women felt there was just a certain place for them," Ellison said. "This helps younger women realize anything is possible. We have a 26-year-old officer who is 26 weeks pregnant. She's a marine and she's lifting sod, pushing wheelbarrows and using a pickaxe. If her doctor says she can do it, then she can do it, so women can do anything."

Ellison, who was the second woman hired in the department, said it's an honor to help volunteer with other women for this build.

The home-building project is a part of the Indy Women Build Program, recruiting, educating, and encouraging women to build and advocate for decent and affordable houses in their communities.

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"We're breaking barriers," Olivia Kirk with Habitat for Humanity said. "Construction is obviously a male-dominated industry, so having women out here, I think is ending the stigma that only men can be in construction."

Over the past decade, the Greater Indy Habitat Women Build has constructed homes for 14 families and raised more than $2 million to support the mission.

"It's our biggest fundraiser of the year," Kirk said. "Yes, it is super important to have people out here volunteering with us. It is incredibly important to raise money for it, but beyond that, it's spreading the word of Habitat. We're building homes and bringing people together to enrich the community."

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Along with volunteer labor, Kirk said the women raised $353,000 for the year, starting in March, to help fund the homes. Their goal was to have $350,000 by the time of closing for the homes.

"They knocked it out of the park," Kirk said. "So, we're ahead of schedule. I think sometimes people get a little nervous because they don't have that experience, but you don't need it."

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity provides affordable home ownership for members of its home buyer program. To qualify, you must display a need, affordability and willingness to partner.

The need would be for someone who wouldn't qualify for a mortgage on the traditional housing market, but who still wants the stability of home ownership. People buy the homes built by Habitat, which keeps mortgages in-house so they're able to work with people. Interest rates for the homes are 0%, Kirk said.

People who apply start the program's Habitat University class, which is a semester-long course. In four months, future home buyers learn about financial literacy, home maintenance and being a good neighbor to set them up for long-term success.

After finishing courses, people volunteer their time in what the program calls, "sweat equity hours," by getting in the field and helping to build other Habitat homes before working toward getting their own.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for our officers to work hand in hand with one of our neighboring communities to make a tangible difference," said Fisher's Police Chief Ed Gebhart.

The two families are set to move into their new homes Aug. 29.

Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formally Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: These Fishers women take on a ‘male-dominated’ industry for a good cause