Women build homes for women in Chicago’s Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood

CHICAGO — Four new homes are going up in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, each one being built for women, by women.

The Habitat for Humanity build at the corner of 72nd and South University is special, not only because each one of these homes is for a first time female homeowner, but all of it is being built entirely by women.

Jennifer Parks is the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Chicago.

“Most of the folks who volunteer with us are in offices right, not in a construction site normally. So it’s our job to provide people with the skills and the training to build the home,” she said. “So at the end of the day they can be like, ‘I helped build that!’”

The volunteer team from ABOC left their desk jobs this week to leave an indelible mark on another woman’s life.

It is the fifth build for the ABOC Dream makers, who show up to fight the waning number of female homeowners.  In total, the team has raised over $50,000 along with putting in weeks’ worth of hot days, calloused hands and dusty boots, so another woman and her family have a place to call home.

“To have them actually walk into their home for the first time and have that sense of peace, that space … It’s really a transformational moment,” Parks said.

A memorable moment for both the women who will call it home and the women who helped build it.

Visit the ABOC website for more information on how to donate to the project.

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