La Crosse, WI (WXOW)-- Construction isn't typically thought of as a female dominated profession, but Habitat for Humanity is looking to get women more involved in the construction of affordable homes for local families.
It one of the goals at their latest Habitat for Humanity home: construction primarily by women.
"So many of the people living in substandard housing in our country are women and children. And this is an opportunity to learn about construction techniques and come out and help another family in need," said Cori Skolaski, Executive Director of the La Crosse area Habitat for Humanity. "75 percent of the volunteers on our construction site are women volunteers."
It's part Women Build Week, and Senator Jennifer Shilling was on-hand to help kick off the project.
"I've never done this myself. I like the demolition part of projects, but the idea of really empowering women, that they can do anything as far as coming to a job site with a nail gun or building walls," Shilling said.
When the house is complete, it will belong to the Mathison family, who have two young daughters.
Bryan Mathison will be working to help build his new home and says being one of few guys on site, is nothing knew to him.
"I'm always out numbered by women," said Mathison. "It's like, I'm already out numbered by women in the house, and now I'm going to be out numbered by women building the house."
9-year-old Jiamin says it's exciting to be getting a house and even better that it's being built by women.
"Because it's not just boys, it can be women too, who can build it," said Jiamin.
And even though Women Build Week is set to end May 13, this construction site will continue to be female dominated until it's complete in December.
If you want to get a group of women together and volunteer. You can find more information at habitatlacrosse.org.
