Dozens Of Women Volunteering To Build Homes In West Pullman
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The sound of pounding nails could be heard loud and clear in the West Pullman neighborhood on the South Side. The workers were all women with one goal: to build lots of houses.
It's an enormous project led by Habitat for Humanity Chicago. CBS 2's Jim Williams talked with a family who will live in one of the houses.
In the intense heat of July, Angela Spencer is building a home. Her home.
"I am looking forward to being a homeowner and having a home for my children," Spencer said.
One child, Ji'Nee Washington, was there too, pounding away. When she returns to Chicago late this year from college, the house will be finished.
"I think it'll just mean a new beginning, for my little brothers actually to be safe with going outside and playing," Ji'Nee said.
Angela and Ji'Nee were joined in this big project by dozens of new friends, women from various walks of life, all volunteers for Habitat for Humanity Chicago. They call this "Women Build."
"The goal of Women Build is to empower women to come together around a common goal," said Elizabeth Walker with Habitat Chicago.
The goal of transforming a beleaguered community, one plank, one nail at a time, despite the demands of full time jobs.
Pasty O'Donnell works at United.
"Some of us are going to work tonight, some of us came off of work this morning," she said. "O got off work last night at ten o'clock."
She and her friends are hooked.
"It makes me want to volunteer more," O'Donnell said.
The volunteers have already built three homes off of 119th Street, with more on the way. In about two years, there will be 16 brand new homes.
Not only did the volunteers pound nails and saw wood, they raised money for the construction materials. The new homeowner, Angela Spencer, gets a 30 year, zero percent mortgage, but she has to put in 250 hours of "sweat equity."