Two Sisters. Two Homes. One Community: Women Build 2026

In 2026, Women Build will help change what “home” means for two sisters—Ladreka and Courtney King—as they work toward Habitat homeownership in the Gifford Gardens community. Their journeys are different, but their hope is the same: a safe, stable place where their children can grow, thrive, and dream bigger.

For Ladreka, life has required strength at every turn. Growing up and living in poverty is difficult on its own, and Ladreka also navigates daily life with a physical disability. Still, as a mother of three, she keeps moving forward—because her children are her motivation and her reason to push through the hard days. Ladreka says, “I want to give them a better life—a safe, stable home and the opportunities I never had.” She dreams of a future where her family doesn’t have to move from place to place—a future where they can feel secure and proud of where they live.

Determined to build that future, Ladreka reached out to Indian River Habitat for Humanity for a way forward. Now accepted into the Habitat homebuyer program, she’s ready to learn, grow, and put in the work it takes to build not just a house—but a foundation for lasting change. She is determined to break the cycle of poverty and show her children what resilience can build.

For Courtney, the dream of homeownership has been years in the making. She and her son lived in rentals for years until she decided it was time to become homeowners. Courtney understood Habitat’s “sweat equity” commitment because she once helped her mother complete hours when her mother purchased a Habitat-built home. Now, Courtney is completing her own sweat equity and embracing every chance to learn. In homebuyer maintenance classes, she’s gaining the confidence and skills that come with being a first-time homeowner. As Courtney says, “I always wanted to own my own home… It’s going to mean everything.”

Her six-year-old son asks her daily when they will have a home of their own. Thanks to Women Build 2026, Courtney can answer with something powerful: soon.

Women Build isn’t only about construction—it’s about community. When you sponsor or volunteer, you’re helping two sisters build stability side-by-side in Gifford Gardens. You’re helping children grow up with the security of a consistent home. And you’re proving that when women build, families rise.

Join Women Build 2026— fundraise amongst your peers, volunteer on the site, and help the King sisters open the doors to a new future.