There’s a sign hanging on my office wall with two words: Families First. It’s simple, hand drawn in purple marker on a piece of paper, with the words outlined in the shape of a heart. I drew it one day as I reflected on our mission and the vision we’re creating for our future. It’s a reminder to me -and now to everyone who walks into my office- that everything we do comes back to our mission and the families we serve. 

We’ve been on a journey to understand more deeply the affordable housing crisis, the families we serve, and the role Habitat-MidOhio should play in helping solve it. Across our Affiliate, there is a shared belief that we must do more. That means challenging ourselves, rethinking how we work, and being willing to make bold decisions that position us for greater impact. 

In the simplest terms, our vision is straightforward: build more homes, repair more homes, and serve more families. But accomplishing that takes far more than setting ambitious goals. It requires aligning our people, our resources, and our partnerships around what matters most - our mission.

That commitment is reflected in an important change we’ve recently made. We have created a new Mission Impact department, bringing together three mission-critical teams under one leader. I’m excited to share that Habitat veteran Joel Grimes will serve as our Vice President of Mission Impact. 

Joel has spent nearly a decade serving our Affiliate in a variety of construction leadership roles, most recently overseeing our Home Repair program and land development efforts. In his new role, he will lead our Construction, Homeowner Services, and Volunteer Services teams -the very teams responsible for delivering our mission every day. 

July 1 marked the beginning of a new Fiscal Year -one that will be a record-setting year for new home construction. As we prepare to more than double the number of homes we build, we've also promoted Mattias Minarsch from Construction Lead to Field Superintendent. Mattias has spent the past decade serving Habitat MidOhio's Construction team, earning the respect of volunteers, students, and colleagues alike through his leadership, expertise, and commitment to our mission. Together with their teams, Joel and Mattias will help position our affiliate to meet this exciting moment of growth. 

I'm absolutely thrilled to see both Joel and Mattias step into these well-deserved leadership roles. 

This realignment isn't simply about organizational structure. It's about creating greater alignment, collaboration, and accountability across the work that has the greatest impact on families. By bringing these teams together, we can strengthen how we deliver our mission, identify opportunities more quickly, remove barriers, and ultimately help more families achieve safe, stable, and affordable housing. 

I've often said this realignment puts a spotlight on our work because these teams are the heartbeat of what we do. Every home we build, every home we repair, every volunteer who swings a hammer, and every family who crosses the threshold of a place to call home is made possible through their dedication and expertise. 

As we continue this journey, my hope is that every decision we make -whether it's about our people, our programs, or our priorities- can be measured against those two words hanging on my office wall. Families First. Because when we keep families at the center of everything we do, we're not just changing our organization. We're changing lives, strengthening neighborhoods, and building what's next for our community.

After many months of planning and preparation we are excited that the first ever townhomes are rising out of the ground on Bassett Ave!  As many know, we have been communicating for some time about our plans for adding multi-family townhomes to our portfolio of affordable housing options and they are now coming to life.

Plans have been developed, funds have been raised, variances and permits acquired, and most importantly families have been identified to partner with over the past months.  Over the past month or so the ground was broken and construction has begun.  Sewer and water taps have been made and the foundations for the first five units are well underway.  This exciting project will bring new life to Bassett Ave in the Devon Triangle neighborhood.  We have had an overwhelming great response and excitement from the community as a whole, including neighbors, area commission, and faith community.  From the time of our groundbreaking ceremony back in April to present, we continue to gain momentum in the community and look forward to continuing to help develop the area in a responsible way. 

Our schedule indicates we will start having many volunteers out on-site building in partnership starting in the middle of August.  Many thanks ahead of time go out to the sponsors and volunteers who will take part in this milestone project for HFHMO.   A special thanks goes out to the newly trained and committed ‘Cornerstone Construction Crew Leads’ who will help to create spectacular experiences for the many other volunteers who will pick up saws, hammers and levels over the coming months; we could not be successful without your passion and commitment. 

We look forward to seeing many of our supporters out on site soon to see this new product line come to life and soon be the homes for fourteen deserving families.