What is Women Build?

Coming together to build stronger, safer communities.

Women from the FM area will join together for a multi-day effort to build a home alongside low-income hardworking families in the community. A committee of women and thousands of volunteers work together to raise the funds for the project. Monies raised will support the construction of new, affordable homes in Cass and Clay Counties.

Who are we helping in 2026?

Nelly and her family currently live in a mobile home that most people would be nervous to step foot into. “It is really toxic and unstable,” she says, describing her neighborhood that is marked by crime, trafficking, and domestic violence. The damage and repairs are constant: a leaky roof, water damage, sewer backup, and an unstable structure. “The problems are never‑ending,” she shares, painting a picture of daily anxiety and insecurity.

When Nelly began her Habitat application, something in her shifted and she began to have hope for the future of her and her children.

Still, doubt shadowed her steps. The cold February day, when the Habitat team knocked on her door with the news that she had been accepted. “I was already rejecting myself before I wrote the paper explaining why I needed the house,” she remembers. That knock became a declaration of belief—Habitat's belief in her potential!

The Habitat team recalls some of the first words that came out of Nelly’s mouth after learning she was selected, which truly speaks to Nelly’s character. “I was just sitting there, like you know what, even if I don’t get selected and there’s somebody else that needs it more, just give it to them. We can deal with this.”

What followed the selection announcement was a series of transformative experiences. Working with volunteers and other future homeowners, Nelly has been learning many meaningful skills: “Everyone communicates very well and is super friendly and helpful. I have also become more educated. I learned about laying sod and appropriate nail placements for framing a house.” Through each hammer swing and shared lunch break, she is building more than a house—she's building confidence, friendship, and a sense of contribution.

Nelly looks ahead to a future defined by security: “The safety—feeling like I have a home and it’s mine. A place where my children can feel safe as well.” It’s a simple yet profound dream—the foundation of what a “home” should truly be.

Her time with Habitat has also reshaped how she sees her community: “It has given me hope. I feel support. Support I didn’t have before.” In those words lies the core of Habitat’s mission: forging connections, building resilience, and restoring belief in what’s possible.

Nelly is already thinking beyond herself. “Habitat is there to help others in the community to support you in your journey to homeownership. They don’t just support you and your family, but generations to come!” She emphasizes. To her, a home is “a safe, affordable, secure house. A place where you call home.”