National Women Build Week: Women volunteer their time to work on Habitat home in Waukesha

WAUKESHA -- Women in southeast Wisconsin and across the country spent the first week of May at construction sites -- building homes for those in need in recognition of National Women Build Week.

It takes a team effort to raise a wall, but a crew in Waukesha executed flawlessly on Thursday, May 5th -- and most of the women who took part are not professional builders.

"Most days we have had 100 percent women, and a couple men on site that are our crew leaders," said Mary Nurse, development director for Habitat Humanity Waukesha.

National Women Build Week challenges women to devote their time and talent to help build affordable housing within their local community. More than 15,000 volunteers spent the first week of May on job sites across the country to raise funds and awareness for affordable housing.

"To be a part of this has just been a blessing," said Monique Miller, volunteer from Hydrite Chemical.

The homes are sold at a reduced cost to people in need, like Irene Galvan.

"I want to let people know how grateful I am," said Galvan.

Thursday, May 5th marked day four of the project off West Avenue. It is part of a larger transformation in Waukesha's historic Dunbar Oaks neighborhood.  Habitat is building on the former YWCA site.

"Habitat will have done eight of the homes here -- and what once was a blighted property is now home to about 25 adults and 35 children," said Nurse.

Since the program was created in 1998, more than 2,300 homes have been built in partnership with lower-income families using Women Build crews.