Volunteer opportunities
Alachua Women Build
Who we are
Alachua Women Build was founded in the mid 1990's by a group of women who recognized both the need for good, affordable housing in our community and the potential for women to take an active role in meeting this need. Hundreds of women of all ages and backgrounds, including the homeowner-to-be, participate in each build and are mentored in construction techniques.
Our Latest Build
Completed in July 2024
Women Build #17
Pauline’s house in Gainesville
What we do
Alachua Women Build is an all-volunteer program of Habitat for Humanity that raises funds for and builds houses in partnership with hard-working families often headed by women in need of safe and affordable homes. Women empower women: volunteers and the homeowner gain new skills, self-reliance, and a boost in self-confidence. The first house was built in 1996, and since then fifteen more have been completed.
What you can do
Build a house with Alachua Women Build - no experience necessary!
Provide lunches for volunteer builders
Help with fundraising and publicity
Donate funds for our next house
Getting started
To volunteer with Alachua Women Build Visit our Facebook Page, or email alachuawomenbuild@gmail.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can see our build site safety manual here.
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No! Our site supervisors will walk you through everything on-site.
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Yes! Our lunches are generously provided by a diverse group of volunteers and we do not know in advance what they will bring. Usually vegetarian options are available, but if you have specific dietary requirements, please plan accordingly.
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All registered volunteers will receive the site address the week of their scheduled build. Our current site is located within a 20-minute drive of the University of Florida.
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Volunteers should arrive at 8:30 am and stay until 2:30 pm. Please contact us at alachuawomenbuild@gmail.com if that's not feasible.
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Volunteers should wear clothing that they don't mind getting dirty and should wear shoes that enclose the toe/heel and that have a sole similar to that of tennis shoes/hiking boots.
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Yes, we have porta-potties on all of our sites for our volunteers to use.
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We monitor the weather leading up to all of our volunteer events. The build may be cancelled if weather poses a potential safety risk or if it will impede construction progress on the site. Occasionally, this means a cancellation on the morning of the event. If it is scheduled to rain, some sites may still be able to host volunteers if the work for the day is inside the house, depending on its state in the construction process. Volunteers will be notified via email if the build is cancelled.