Ways to Listen
Pandora
Overcast
Episode Outline
00:35 Welcome to Episode 19!
2:54 Laura shares her nearly 40-year connection to Charlotte and how 17 years of volunteering with Habitat ultimately led to more than 12 years serving as CEO.
4:51 Liz asks Laura to share how her career led to housing
7:59 Laura explains Habitat’s mission to build homes, communities, and hope and why collaboration with homeowners, volunteers, developers, funders, financial institutions, and government partners is critical.
8:22 Laura drops a gem “It’s both a blessing and a challenge to know that in my mission statement that I am charged with trying to build hope, during a housing crisis.”
9:13 Laura explains Habitat’s faith-based origin story in Americus, Georgia, to the Charlotte region, an idea that came from Millard and Linda Fuller who had done missionary work in Africa and seen the need for housing and communal housing.
10:55 Laura shares, “I have thought and treated my role in my occupation as more of a calling” and Buechner definition of vocation “When the world’s great hunger and your contributions can intersect”
14:07 Liz touches on the aspects of land, entitlement, design, permitting, financing, construction and unexpected challenges all play a role in getting a home from concept to completion.
15:20 Laura shares a poignant homeowner story that illustrates how something as simple as children having their own bedrooms can represent stability, dignity and new possibilities.
17:28 Home at What Cost? The conversation explores the difficult tradeoffs families make when housing costs consume too much of their income, from spending less on groceries to delaying medical care or taking on additional work.
21:53 Laura gives an overview of Habitat’s three-part eligibility model: demonstrating a housing need, having the ability to repay a mortgage, and being willing to partner with Habitat.
23:30 Laura explains how income, debt, rental history and overall financial readiness factor in becoming a homeowner while keeping housing costs affordable; and look at Habitat’s below-market mortgage approach and how lower interest costs can increase a family’s buying power and help homeowners build equity.
26:21 The conversation examines the income ranges served by Habitat and the growing challenge of matching household incomes with Charlotte-area housing costs.
29:43 Laura breaks down the mix of public funding, down-payment assistance, philanthropy, land, materials, labor and financial partnerships that can make a Habitat home possible.
31:36 Maya asks Laura what changes she sees in families after they become homeowners and what the biggest challenges aspiring homeowners are facing today
37:43 Laura shares one authentic thing about herself “I am authentically a stereotypical oldest child of three girls”
38:38 Laura picks an affirmation card “The Universe has big plans for me and it’s time to claim them”
39:46 The conversation turns to learning about Bryant Owens, Laura’s successor and the next chapter for Habitat Charlotte Region
40:52 Maya asks Laura the final question, “Looking back on your career, what are you most proud of?”
· Habitat’s desire to grow the community and how it’s work now extends beyond new construction to critical home repair, financial education and housing advocacy at the local, state and national levels.
· 4,000 Volunteers, 29 Homes & One Powerful Week: Laura looks back on the 2023 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Charlotte and what thousands of volunteers working together demonstrated about the power of community.