Women come together to build Habitat homes

Nearly 200 women will come together to work at a DuPage Habitat for Humanity site in West Chicago the week of Sept. 12-19. The 2015 DuPage Habitat for Humanity Women Build is an opportunity for women across the area to build homes, communities and hope for families in need.

The mission of Women Build is simple - to recruit, educate and nurture women to build and advocate for simple, decent and affordable housing in their communities. Volunteers of every skill level are welcome.

At the West Chicago site, the women will work on DuPage Habitat's Pioneer Prairie townhouse subdivision. Each woman volunteer is asked to devote at least one day.

"I am excited to meet and build alongside other energetic women," said Jeanette Jelinek, a DuPage Habitat partner who will be building and speaking at the Women Build event.

"I cannot thank DuPage Habitat enough for the stability and support they are providing my family. We can't wait to make our new house a home."

Wheaton native Jim Belushi will join Jelinek and other volunteers to build from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. Belushi built wall frames on Michigan Avenue last summer at Raise Your Hand Chicagoland that now are part of Habitat homes in Elgin. A College of DuPage alumnus, Belushi will be the honored guest for the official dedication of the Belushi Performance Hall at the McAninch Arts Center later that night.

Nearly six in 10 women, and children who live in families headed by women, struggle with poverty, according to U.S. Census Poverty Data and the National Women's Law Center. Poverty rates are especially high for single mothers, women of color and elderly women living alone.

Habitat breaks the cycle of poverty through affordable homes. DuPage Habitat builds and sells zero-interest mortgage homes to working families using the funds and volunteers provided by corporate, faith-based and individual community partners.

The Habitat homes are not given away, or earned solely through sweat equity. The homes are built by volunteers and partner families, then sold to the families on the basis of need, ability to repay a 30-year mortgage, and a willingness to invest 250 hours of "sweat equity" labor in Habitat's mission.

"Our goals for this event are to empower women to change lives, build a home for a family in need and create hope in our community," said Dave Neary, DuPage Habitat's executive director. "We are grateful for all of our 2015 Women Build volunteers who are working hard to help families in need build brighter futures."

For information on DuPage Habitat's 2015 Women Build Event, visit dupagehabitat.org/womenBuild.