All Of Us Have A Role

On Monday, October 5, people around the world will recognize World Habitat Day—a day set aside to reflect on something that feels both incredibly basic and increasingly out of reach: everyone deserves a decent place to live.

This year’s theme is “Adequate Housing for All.” I want to emphasize that last word: all.

At Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio, we see every day what the housing crisis looks like here at home. Central Ohio continues to grow, bringing new jobs, investment and neighbors to our region. But our housing supply simply isn’t keeping pace. We need thousands more homes each year to meet the demand created by that growth.

Of course, this challenge extends far beyond Central Ohio. Around the world, an estimated 2.8 billion people live with some form of inadequate housing. Conflict, political instability, climate change and economic hardship cause people to leave the places they know in search of safety, stability and opportunity.

For some, that journey brings them to Central Ohio.

Our region is becoming more global, and many of the families we serve at Habitat-MidOhio are New Americans. They are our neighbors and coworkers. They are raising families and building futures here. They work in transportation, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and many other industries that help our region thrive.

They are part of the all in “Adequate Housing for All.”

There is something especially meaningful about reflecting on that idea this year. Habitat for Humanity recently marked 50 years of bringing people together around the belief that everyone deserves a decent place to live. And next year, Habitat-MidOhio will celebrate our own milestone—40 years of serving families and communities across Central Ohio. You’ll hear much more about that as we enter the new year.

Those milestones are worth celebrating, but they also remind us of something fundamental about Habitat: this work has always been about people coming together.

That spirit of partnership is just as important today. We often say that no one organization can solve the affordable housing crisis alone. It will take nonprofits, businesses, government, and philanthropy working together. It will take volunteers willing to roll up their sleeves. And it will take neighbors looking out for neighbors, including welcoming those who are new to our community.

That may be what I appreciate most about this year’s World Habitat Day theme. Housing for all is a big global ambition, but it is also incredibly personal.

It’s the family looking for their first stable home. The longtime homeowner who needs a critical repair to remain safely in the neighborhood they love. The family who came to Central Ohio seeking a new beginning. The volunteer working alongside a future homeowner. The donor or partner who decides this challenge is worth investing in.

All of us have a role.

As Central Ohio continues to grow and change, we have an opportunity to make sure that growth creates opportunity for everyone. That means building more affordable homes, helping people maintain the homes they already have, welcoming our new neighbors and continuing to look out for one another.

Because when we come together to make sure everyone has a decent place to call home, we don’t just build houses. We build a stronger community for all of us.

Building Hope, Opportunity, & Home

After three years with Habitat-MidOhio, Kennedy has found meaningful ways to give back by combining her passion for community engagement with her professional and leadership skills. From volunteering on new home construction projects to serving as Membership Chair for Habitat Young Professionals, she continues to grow as a leader and advocate for Habitat’s mission. Her journey shows how stepping outside your comfort zone, asking questions, and embracing new opportunities can build confidence while making a lasting impact in the community. Click here to learn more! 

Have a fall project and getting rid of “stuff”? Downsizing your home? Remodeling parts of your house? We are here to help with all of your unwanted, gently used items. You can bring any items you are wanting to donate to any of our 3 locations. The list of what we take is available on our website. We will also come to your house and pickup large items….for free! All sales from donated items go towards of mission of providing a decent place for everyone to live. 

We want to give a warm welcome to two new team members who have joined the construction department in the past month or so. With plans for serving many more families this year, these new team members will have important roles to help us achieve our goals.

Jeremy Harrigan joined us last month as a new Construction Project Lead where he will be working alongside families and volunteers leading projects. He comes to us with some previous experience volunteering with Habitat on disaster relief post-Katrina. He brings an excellent mix of experience in social work and construction skills. In addition to his career in case management and business, he has also been a self-employed contractor. He has extensive experience in residential remodeling, project coordination, and volunteer training.