She Builds

Women-led and women focused, She Builds provides critical repairs for women-headed households and women-focused community spaces to empower women to maintain safe and healthy homes, make a difference in their communities and build a supportive community network.

Women and older adult homeowners make up the core of Rebuilding Together work. In 2021, over 80% of individuals who received services from Rebuilding Together were women. Women over the age of 65 also experience poverty in larger numbers than men, with women making up nearly two-thirds of older adults living in poverty. Out of all household types, female-headed households with children have a much higher prevalence of repair needs and costs.  More than one in three families headed by women with children lived under the federal poverty line. Two-thirds of low-wage workers are women working for just $11.50 or less, most without a spouse’s income to rely on to support their family.

She Builds is a powerful collaboration between Rebuilding Together, corporate and community leaders who are dedicated to advancing the housing and community issues affecting women. Volunteers, homeowners and community members come to the builds with a myriad of experiences and skills to share and learn from one another. Programming includes participation in a home or community center renovation led by women, home repair trainings to give women the confidence and skills to maintain safe and healthy homes and leadership training and mentoring to encourage community participation and empowerment. She Builds brings women together to support one another and empowers them to be changemakers in their own communities.

2nd Annual She Builds, March 2024

More details to follow!

For more information on how to become a She Builds sponsor or volunteer, contact Kat Schweitzer kschweitzer@rtno.org. For more information on how to host a workshop contact Olivia Grace at ograce@rtno.org.