Lake County is facing a housing crisis, and women and women-led families can face particular barriers to achieving housing stability and homeownership.

Our team, Lake County Women Leaders Build, is proud to partner with Lake-McHenry Habitat for Humanity to help a woman-led family build a safe, affordable place to call home. We are also building to amplify the important work already underway at the county and state levels to address our housing shortage and create more opportunities for affordable homeownership.

Across Lake County and Illinois, government leaders are working to expand the supply of housing and remove barriers to affordability. As women elected officials, we want to do our part—not only by helping build a home, but by using our voices to raise awareness about the need for more housing and stronger communities.

Why does this matter?

• Women earn less on average than men, which can affect access to credit, mortgages, and housing options.
• Women head the vast majority of single-parent households and are more likely to be primary caregivers for aging parents, which can create additional challenges to maintaining consistent employment.
• Research has found that single women can face greater barriers to obtaining mortgages than single men, even though women have strong mortgage repayment records.
• Homeownership can be a powerful tool for building long-term financial stability and creating stronger outcomes for families and communities.

Women Build is one small but meaningful step. By putting our hands to work, raising awareness, and supporting Habitat’s mission, we hope to help one woman-led family achieve the dream of homeownership—and amplify the broader effort to ensure that everyone in our community has a safe, affordable place to call home.

Please consider donating and joining us in building stronger futures for women and families in our community.