Description

Finding land to develop and/or properties to build on or rehab is always challenging. Hear from three different affiliates around the state about:

• the innovative ideas that these affiliates have pursued related to land/property acquisiton;

• the challenges they've faced and how they're responding to them; and

• lessons learned and/or best practices that may be helpful to other affiliates.

Presenters

Moderator: Amy Ristow

Panelists:

Melissa Songco, CEO of HFH Waukesha

Melissa joined Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha County as the CEO in April of 2021. In less than a year, Melissa formed valuable partnerships with local businesses, developers, and the government to increase the inventory of affordable housing units in the City of Waukesha. Habitat Waukesha purchased the 3.58 acres of vacant land, a former shade factory, to build the first Habitat Waukesha subdivision. Domenica Park was a vision for Melissa, and she worked tirelessly and graciously with supportive community partners to bring it to life. Her first exposure to Habitat was over 20 years ago while attending Marquette University. She volunteered locally through the campus chapter and traveled on a Global Village trip with Habitat to Zambia during the summer. She jokes that on that trip, she caught the "Habititus,” and the mission of affordable housing has become an essential part of her life ever since.

John Dawson, Executive Director of HFH Chippewa Valley

Tom Simon, Executive Director of HFH Oshkosh