The positive impact our work has on individuals, families and communities

In 2012, I was working with high school students, and one of my colleagues said they were putting in a new Habitat affiliate office. Although I’d heard of Habitat, I didn’t know a lot about it. But when I met some of the staff and volunteers and they explained the program, I thought, “That’s pretty great.”

Fast forward to last summer. I found out Jackson County Habitat’s executive director was leaving, and I learned as much as I could. I kept calling them daily: “Is it posted? Is it posted?” I was so excited when I got the interview but also scared, I must say. But it’s been a wonderful experience.

What I’ve come to realize is how huge housing seems to kids. It seems such a far-fetched thing to them, something for adults to worry about. Kids have a hard time finding their role in housing. So you have to figure out how to involve them.

With our homeowners, for example, you should see how kids light up to bring in their report cards, which count toward sweat equity: an hour for an A, a half-hour for a B. They’re actually involved in the process, and that means a lot to them.

Having worked in public health for a few years, I’ve seen how all aspects of life are interconnected. Our local college’s business program requires community service of their students, and I like to use that as a teaching moment.

I ask what their home environment was like, and — regardless of whether it was a great experience or they grew up in poverty and fought their way out — they start to see the importance of stable housing. Either “I did have it” or “these are the things I had to overcome.” And “how can I pay it forward to make it easier for someone else?”