Photo by Jennifer BruseNews
Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County hosts inaugural State of the Affiliate with Panel
On Wednesday, September 23, Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, TX hosted the inaugural State of the Affiliate event at Truluck’s The Woodlands.
The event offered a look at where Habitat for Humanity stands today and where they’re headed next. Guests enjoyed a delicious Truluck’s breakfast while listening to five panelists who provided insight into affordable homeownership from national, state, and local perspectives, including the challenges and opportunities shaping access to homeownership today.
The State of the Affiliate panel included:
- Edwin Hensley, Director, U.S. Construction, Habitat for Humanity International
- Amy Ledbetter Parham, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Texas
- Aimee Bertrand, Executive VP & CEO, Greater Houston Builders Association
- Steve Sherman, Associate Director for Research, Center for Housing & Neighborhoods, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University
- Kim Soderberg, REALTOR®, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate – Gary Greene & 2027 Building Hope Gala Co-Chair
Panelists discussed various topics, such as, how Habitat for Humanity is looking at operational efficiencies, how to manage costs yet continue to provide quality homes, as well as housing affordability, trade education opportunities, housing policies, and sustainable funding. As the cost of materials and housing continue to rise, Habitat for Humanity is still focused on building a desirable product using quality and locally available building materials, offering long term affordability for homeowners, plus build and impact healthy communities. Habitat for Humanity is the only nonprofit developer with the purpose of building affordable homes for families based on the housing price need with the help of community partners. The labor of volunteers and partner families, efficient building methods, modest house sizes, and no-profit loans make it affordable for low-income families to purchase Habitat houses.
Following the panel, Jalisa, a future Habitat MCTX Homeowner, shared her story and why owning a home for her and her daughter is so important. “I am looking forward to giving my daughter a place where she can simply be a kid, and where we can finally feel settled and rooted. As simple as it sounds, I’m actually most excited about marking her height on the kitchen wall every year and watching those little marks grow with her. I’m excited to create traditions, make memories, and watch her grow in a home that we helped build. This home represents so much more to me than four walls; to me it represents answered prayers, hard work, and a future I have been believing in God for.”
View moments from the event on the Hello Woodlands Instagram page:
