Habitat for Humanity event brings more than 250 women together to build homes
Last week’s Women Build event was the largest yet for South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, having brought more than 250 women together to help build homes.
The nonprofit raised more than $90,000 through sponsors and volunteers.
This year’s event took place at the Tâlíčn development, at the corner of 73rd and Henderson Boulevard in Tumwater. The development was named in partnership with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and means “to help” in the Lower Cowlitz Coast Salish language.
According to a news release from the nonprofit, women builders helped frame and raise the walls on four homes and complete the work on two others. The development will house 28 homeowners once completed.
Tanya Mote, chief advancement officer, spoke ahead of building on May 16. She said the group included one of the Tâlíčn development homebuyers who works in pediatrics and has two children. They were given sharpies to sign the inside of the home once it was complete.
“We are here to empower women in home ownership and also in the construction trades and to raise funds to support affordable housing in our community,” Mote said. “From wage disparities to limited access to homeownership, women face obstacles to homeownership and we are here to help alleviate those.”
According to the nonprofit, single female households are 6% less likely to own their home than single male households, while also paying higher mortgage rates than similarly situated men. That’s despite women more reliably making loan payments.
“This is our biggest Women Build event yet,” Mote said. “We’re not only building homes, we’re celebrating the difference we can make when women come together.”
The build was a first for Rozanne Garman, president and founder of Tumwater-based RHD Enterprises, a general contractor and metal fabricator. She said she’s worked on many sites, but never a residential one. She said it wouldn’t be her last time working with Habitat.
Garman said Thurston County and the nation as a whole continue to face housing challenges, and it’s important for the community to come together to try to address the issue locally.
“Women are underrepresented in the construction and trades community, and so having women who have zero construction experience come together to support the build makes it even more special,” she said.
Chazmin Peters volunteered on Friday with her mother, Cheryl Fambles. Peters, a member of the Squaxin Island Tribe, said she’s always understood the importance of having access to a safe and secure home, having lived in subsidized reservation housing with her parents. She said they were later able to purchase their own home off the reservation.
Fambles said she was delighted to volunteer with other women who like to work with their hands and lift up other women. She said there needs to be more access to workforce housing in our region.
This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
.jpg)