WORCESTER, Mass. - Women at Consigli Construction were outnumbering men at a Worcester job site on Thursday. 

“It used to be the ‘good boy’s club,’” volunteer Andrea Baham said. “It’s not like that anymore.”

It’s all part of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build. The project, largely made up of volunteers, helps build affordable homes.

Jody Staruk is the first woman to be a project executive at Consigli. She has a lot more female co-workers now than she did 20 years ago, but said she wants to see more. 

“We are definitely making a difference in terms of women in construction. Women in stem,” Staruk said. “We are seeing a lot more of ourselves in meetings." 

What You Need To Know

  • Habitat for Humanity's Women Build rallies volunteers to help build affordable homes
  • Women from Cosigli Construction volunteered to work on three homes in Worcester
  • Habitat for Humanity said single mothers are more impacted by the affordable housing crisis
  • The houses volunteers are helping finish will one day become home to families and single moms​

Women in all roles at the company put on hard hats and got work doing whatever was needed to get these three homes ready to live in by next spring. 

Andrea Baham is a project manager and a mom who volunteers to help support other women. 

“I try to teach my kids we have to give back to everyone who isn’t as fortunate as we are,” Baham said. 

Habitat for Humanity said single mothers are more affected by the affordable housing crisis. The houses Staruk and Baham are helping finish will one day become home to families and single moms.

“I mean I have two small girls, so that gives you a whole new appreciation for what its like to be a parent, let alone a single parent,” Staruk said. “So something like this, just to take one avenue of stress out of your life.”