Women at Work
- By Marsha Ferguson -

Eight years after encouraging women-built houses - an effort that has created more than 200 such houses worldwide - Habitat for Humanity co-founder Linda Fuller has spearheaded the formation of HFHI's Women Build department.

The department plans to increase the involvement and skill level of women in the construction of Habitat houses. Women Build's first major initiative, First Ladies Build, will help sponsor and organize high-profile builds over the next several months.The builds will occur in or near each of the nation's 50 state capitals.

The initiative involves current and former first ladies, women governors, concerned women and Habitat partner families. The premiere "First Ladies Build" event kicked off in Little Rock, Ark. First Ladies' houses have been built in six other states to date.

"Habitat for Humanity's goal of eliminating substandard housing from the face of the earth must include large numbers of women," says Fuller.


Marsha Fergusen is Marketing associate with Habitat for Humanity International.


Reprinted from Habitat World Magazine, August/September, 1999.
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©1999 Habitat for Humanity International