Homeownership is one of the most dynamic tools a person can use to build a strong and stable future, but it is a tool that far too many women are unjustly being denied access.

From the gender pay gap and its impact on credit profiles, to uneven child care responsibilities that consume time and financial resources, to higher rates of mortgage denials despite superior payment performance, the barriers keeping women from homeownership are massive.

But I'm doing something about it. I'm grabbing my hammer, strapping on my tool belt, and joining in Habitat Chicago's Women Build alongside 300 other powerhouse women to knock these barriers down. This isn't my first time! As a child my parents were a big part of Habitat for Humanity in Toledo. I spent days running around helping however I could and loved being a part of helping someone have a home.

Together, we will completely fund and begin building the home of a woman-led family AND celebrate all of the women purchasing affordable homes with Habitat for Humanity Chicago.

You can make a difference. Help me reach my goal so we can change the lives of these women forever and prove that there's nothing a woman can't do when she sets her mind to it. I appreciate any support you can give - big, small, or somewhere in between.

Thank you so much!
Michelle