Coming up on IG, we'll discuss Topeka Habitat for Humanity and the services they provide in Topeka and Shawnee County.

Please stay with us.

(MUSIC) This program on KTWU is brought to you by Friends of KTWU.

We appreciate your financial support.

Thank you.

(MUSIC) Hello and welcome to IGI.

I'm your host, Betty Lou Pardue.

For over 40 years, Topeka Habitat for Humanity has worked to build safe, affordable homes for low and medium income individuals and families in Shawnee County.

Here to tell us more about the mission of Habitat for Humanity and the services they provide are Janice Watkins, CEO, Chief Executive Officer, and Nikki McMillan, CEO or Chief Operating Officer for Topeka Habitat for Humanity.

And we are so glad you're here On I've Got Issues.

Former Inspire guests.

This time we have a longer time to talk because we need to delve into this now 40 years, 41 years.

But who started it nationwide?

Yeah, that's a great question.

Habitat for humanity is a global mission.

And so we serve all around the US, Canada and beyond.

And it was really started at the heart of the civil rights movement by a group of individuals that were working in a co-op farm in Georgia and decided that it was important to do racially equitable housing as well as affordable housing.

And so it was actually started on a farm almost 50 years ago.

Oh my gosh.

Okay, now you brought up Georgia.

We have to say President Carter and Rosalind.

How did that all work in I mean, being from Georgia, do you think that's why he got involved?

Or do you know, he really, during his presidency, was very passionate about affordable housing and became a staunch advocate for habitat and then probably our most well known volunteer all the way up until he passed.

And so he was out swinging a hammer as much as he was probably signing laws and legislature.

I think that's fantastic.

And speaking of famous people, we have to bring up Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.

Yeah, there are new habitat humanitarians, along with, the Scott brothers that do the Property Brothers show on HGTV.

And they really are, taking the torch from Jimmy and Roslyn and leading our humanitarian builds as celebrities, as chief operating officer.

What do you do?

So I really do a little bit of everything.

Okay.

I oversee a lot of our programing, so some of the different homeownership opportunities, home repair opportunities.

I help a lot with our communication and marketing and kind of anything behind the scenes that sort of keeps our mission moving along and moving forward.

Our promotions director here at KTWU has touted the two of you as amazing instructors.

What's that program all about?

So we've offered a lot of different home maintenance and sort of home readiness programing.

Our favorite, which is the one that she is speaking of, is called Voices of Women.

And so it's a more intensive curriculum to help women understand more about their homes, how to maintain them better, how to do projects around the house.

It's really about creating kind of a safe environment where you don't have to worry about feeling silly about asking questions.

You get to learn with other women and from women about how to do some of these things that, a lot of times we don't ever get taught to do.

So fixing, you know, running, leaking sinks or learning about what our home maintenance schedule should be and when we should be changing our filters.

So really, a lot of different topics, in a really fun, empowering environment where we can kind of learn from each other and that gives you more confidence to, you know, to be a single parent or, you know, as a couple.

But it's a, it's a, it's a weeklong course several week long.

Yeah.

So we typically do it over 3 or 4 sessions.

It's about 8 to 9 hours of total curriculum.

And we'll cover everything from hands on kind of home maintenance stuff to, estate planning and kind of financial wellness curriculum, understanding how to protect your assets and, and kind of what to do, with the assets that you have and really just encouraging and empowering everyone at whatever stage they are in their homeownership journey.

Okay.

Now you have some other folks who are joining in this program with you.

We tell about them.

Yeah.

So, specifically for Voices of Women, we are partnering with our homeowner.

Our female homeowner.

Is that, habitat for humanity homes as well as community members.

It's free to the community.

We received a grant from the Women's Fund this year to, to do this curriculum for 2025.

And really, we try to bring in, different female business owners, insurance agents, contractors to really, just assist in whatever the topic is and the curriculum for that day.

And you have a couple of them coming up, Will.

Yeah.

So we're going to be offering our first round at the end of August, beginning of September.

Registrations are already open for that on our website.

And then we're going to do another round as part of our Women Build, which is going to be in October this year.

And why is your home so important?

If somebody is an individual needing one, why is it important to have a place that you can call home?

Yeah, that's a great question.

Home is the number one way that families and individuals build wealth.

So when we look at an equities and wealth building or generational wealth transfer, homeownership is the number one way to do that.

It's not through a savings account a bank typically your number one asset is your home.

And so at Topeka Habitat and across the nation we feel very strongly about protecting that asset, creating that asset.

And then ensuring the transfer of that asset.

So when women are very underrepresented in wealth, there's a gender wage gap.

There's other issues that cause women to not gain wealth as quickly as men.

We find that programs like Voices of Women are just so important to building a stronger and more equitable community.

And we need to stress this is not a giveaway program.

Now, how does the homeowner or future homeowner how are they involved?

Yeah.

Our our housing program is really a partnership housing program.

We partner with the individual or the family and they partner with us.

And so that is based off of their ability to pay because it is not free.

It is a zero interest mortgage, which is what maintains it as affordable.

And it and they have to partner with us on education and sweat equity.

And then they have it have to have a need for safe and affordable housing.

So you couldn't say, I'm selling my house and getting into the habitat program because you already have a house.

We're working with people and families that specifically would not qualify through a conventional bank.

So we are the lenders and we are providing that homeownership opportunity through our special purpose credit program.

Now, if they don't know about you, how can they?

And they're not maybe, you know, not watching this.

Heaven forbid.

Sure.

How did they find out?

How does a person find out about you?

We have a, sign up on our website, Topeka habitat.org for anyone that's interested in learning about our homeownership opportunities.

And so we open that opportunity up once a year.

Typically for a 30 day window.

And we offer a lot of, pre engagement sessions for that to learn about our program and others that actually serve the community.

Because maybe habitat is not the most perfect fit.

And we do have a lot of applicants, for a small amount of spaces per year.

We really want to partner with those individuals for about 12 to 24 months and give them everything we've got to make them successful.

So we partner with about three families per, per cycle, to make them the most successful that they can be into homeownership and beyond.

Now, where is the land?

I mean, obviously you have to have land to build this on.

How does that work for everyone watching this, we could really use some land.

So, please reach out to our offices.

We have been the grateful beneficiary of donated land for a number of years now, with individuals that have lost their homes and house fires and may not be rebuilding, or people who just have vacant lots and no longer want to mow those, we are, hoping to develop about a 28 home development, but that is in the early stages of land that was actually transferred to us by the housing authority.

Wow.

What about reconstructing?

You know, you hear about, okay, we've got so many older homes that couldn't be rebuilt.

Repurposed.

Absolutely.

We know that there are a lot of homes that are currently on the market that are built, that people are either living in or are vacant.

Our goal is, of course, to maintain those properties or to acquire those properties so that we can bring them up to a safe, livable standard.

And then, again, mortgage loans to a family in need.

It's just about kind of the ability to acquire those properties and really maintaining the housing stock that we currently have.

So programs like our Aging in Place program, some of our different, education programs are really meant to not only serve that homeowner, but to really preserve the housing so that future generations can live in it, and it doesn't become to the point of a demolition or a condemnation.

Okay, we explain a little bit more about that aging in place, because I know a lot of people can't afford to not age in place.

So how does that work?

Yeah.

So we developed the Aging in Place program quite a few years ago.

Really, the purpose of that program is what we know is that our aging community is growing, right.

And many of them are on a fixed income.

And so their homes, the the sort of big, expensive systems that sometimes need to be replaced in older homes, that's out of reach.

Also accessibility.

So walk in showers, you know, it's hard to get in and out of a tub.

Maybe you need your stairs converted to a ramp, or you need handrails to to get around your house more safely.

Those are all things that are aging in place program, can provide, and we provide that through a grant.

So we provide that at no cost to the aging homeowner, because we know that on a fixed income, that's just not feasible for a lot of the homeowners that we're serving.

Do you have area businesses who donate materials and time, anything like that?

We do.

We have a very supportive community, and we do have a lot of contractors that will donate their labor or materials.

A special shout out to my friends at to Debackers who owns donate at least a couple of units to our construction or repair efforts every year.

And there are many other generous contractors who use the work that they do with us as training opportunities with interns or, apprentices so that we can receive a lower cost for the work that we do.

I think now if somebody is out there watching and they're like, I have some land or I have some materials, how do they get in touch with you?

Yeah, they just need to call our office.

Goodbye.

Send us an email, go on our website, submit an inquiry.

We're always looking for more hands to help in the work that we do.

Now, if somebody wants to volunteer, they want to help build a home.

Same thing.

Absolutely.

You don't have to be in the field.

You don't have to be a skilled tradesperson.

Most of our volunteers are not.

So a lot of our volunteers come to us from corporate, from the corporate world or from office jobs or, just want to kind of see what they're doing in action.

And it yeah, it's participation.

It's building community.

Obviously we're building houses too, but really it's something that you can hands on to you and see the progress as you're there.

And our construction manager and our construction team are the best.

They will teach you everything you need to know.

You'll get to use some power tools.

You'll walk away feeling like you've done something really good, right?

But you've also learned something and it's such a great experience.

Our volunteers come back to us over and over again.

But we can always use more hands.

Can they get to meet the family that's going to be in the home?

They oftentimes do.

Yeah.

They're oftentimes working alongside the future homeowner, whether they know it or not.

Yeah.

Depending on the individual circumstance, whether it's, an unsafe situation, they might just think it's a fellow volunteer.

And then maybe the homeowner just whispers, you've been working on my home the whole time.

That's up to the homeowner.

But they typically do work right alongside our future homeowners.

Talk about gratifying.

Yeah.

See, we're going to.

And the same is true for our aging in place programs.

So we typically have volunteers that assist with our rent build.

So we have a lot of volunteers that will help build ramps, for aging homeowners.

And a lot of times you will get to also meet, those homeowners because they want to come out and say thank you.

And, you know, maybe they're handing out water or doing whatever they can to show their appreciation.

Sometimes it's just nice to have somebody around for some extra conversation.

And so, you do we do have the benefit of just getting to meet lots of wonderful people through our volunteers and the folks we serve.

Do you have any story that you could share from somebody that, is has benefited from this?

I mean, I am I can think over ten years of many, many stories, but one of my favorites was, one of our home builders from a few years ago.

We planned the home dedication, and the only people in the audience that knew what was about to happen were Nikki and I, and the homeowners came out to get their keys and announced promptly to their entire family that they were getting married on the front porch of their new house.

So it was a surprise wedding home dedication.

I think I still have some parents of those homeowners that are mad at me for not spilling the beans so that they could dress up for the wedding, but it was, a beautiful rainstorm that day, and it was just one of the most remarkable, love filled moments.

I think that's perfect.

Can you think of any of it?

I mean, we get to walk along so many families through so many journeys, and this is such a happy one.

I can think of our 100th family that we served our 100th home.

We were pushing the deadline because there was a baby on the way, and we wanted the house done before baby got here.

And we made it.

But, getting to sort of be a part of that journey and watch all the kiddos come in, and the first thing we did was lay down on the new carpet and they made what we call carpet angels.

They were so excited, to be in a home that was going to be safe and clean and healthy for them.

And it was the most wonderful thing.

And to know that baby was going to get to come home to a really healthy environment as well.

Yeah.

Let's expand a little more on that health, because if somebody is living in an environment that might be bug infested, dust infested, whatever, I mean, that's a health issue.

So it's a huge health issue.

And we see, especially a lot of the families that we're serving are in rentals that may have mold.

We see a lot of mold or just kind of environmental hazards from living in old housing that maybe hasn't been kept up as well as it should be, by the owners.

And so what we know is that a majority of the families that we serve report issues with asthma and health concerns with their kiddos.

Right.

And then once they move into the home, they report that those issues have either gone away or have gotten remarkably better.

So we have one family that went from nearly monthly air visits for asthma to maybe, maybe a once in a while doctor's appointment to just maintain and that's such a huge relief as a parent, you know, to see that.

And, we just we hear that all the time.

The ability to live in an environment that's healthy for you.

Now, you mentioned the safety earlier to like somebody if they're, maybe they were in a situation in their household that wasn't safe, for them with their spouse or whatever.

Is there a way that you can how do you protect that person?

Yeah.

So we feel very strongly about this being such a holistic program.

So once a family is selected, we really get to know them on a deep level.

And we start, kind of looking through their, their past, whether it's generational poverty that they may be experiencing in trauma associated with being a sexual or domestic violence survivor, issues with any needs in the school system.

And Nikki and I kind of walk alongside with that family.

We both come from extensive backgrounds, working in social services outside of housing.

And so we have built a broad network to help serve our homeowners.

And the same goes for our Aging in Place program.

So that is very holistic in nature.

Our current partner, is Midland Health.

And they are offering what we're calling capable where we are going in with the home intervention.

And they are coming in with an RN and an OT that will provide ten visits over the course of the six months in the program so that we can focus on things like accessibility and safety of the home.

They can help with social isolation, food, medication management, physical therapy, occupational therapy.

And so we are just starting that version of our Aging in Place program.

We've successfully now served two individuals, and we cannot wait to serve about 100 more through that.

Wow.

That you guys are just keeping growing.

Are you are you coming up with these ideas yourself, or are you following a national trend or.

I think a little bit of both.

Okay.

Well, we, always want to be innovative housing partners in the community and in the housing ecosystem here.

So we know what our community needs in terms of housing.

And that's safe, decent and affordable, right.

And healthy.

And so, versions of our Aging in Place program, we've piloted programs from other areas like Johns Hopkins.

And then there are programs specifically that we started here in Topeka that we think that are just vitally important, such as our contract for deed conversion program.

And so that program is taking individuals that are in predatory contracts for deeds and they don't own their home.

They don't have legal rights to their home.

It's moving them from that tenuous housing arrangement into an affordable mortgage with us as the bank.

Wow.

Okay.

Somebody out there is going, how can I get those selected, you know, are there is there certain verbiage or certain conditions that would help one applicant over another or not at all?

We are a fair and affordable, safe housing provider, so we accept applications from anyone that is in need.

Our agent in Place program does have a caveat.

You have to be over 60 and you have to live in and own your home in Shawnee County, which is our service area for individuals interested in applying for our partnership housing program.

They simply have to live or work in Shawnee County, and they can apply for our housing program each year when that opens.

And there is a, sign up for that to get notified of when that program opens on our website right now.

Okay.

We have to talk a little bit about the political climate, because I'm guessing that that might be affecting you somewhat.

It is, I think that this is a challenging time, for organizations and individuals that want to do good in the world.

While we're looking at federal funding cutbacks or a delay in federal funds, that certainly has caused us to think about the way that we do business and to think about how we can make even a bigger impact as some of the resources to the community might lessen.

And so we're very much tracking what's happening in Washington, DC, hoping that some of these proposals do not come to fruition because we need safe, decent and affordable rental housing as much as we need homeownership opportunities.

And so we're keeping our pulse on those conversations now more than ever, while also knowing that we are going to stay true to who we are.

We will always welcome everyone through our doors, no matter where they come from, what they believe, the color of their skin, their marital status.

We want to be a place for everyone.

Now, we talked about land donations and material donations.

How about cash donations?

Is all this, are you a 501 C3?

Okay.

We are, people can make donations on our website.

They can set up a reoccurring monthly donation to be, community builder.

There are lots of ways to contribute.

And I think now more than ever, financial contributions are really important, to the work because like Janice said, there are some delays and funding and we want to keep moving our mission forward and keep serving the community and keep serving more and being more, and trying to meet the needs.

This is amazing.

I love your Restore.

How does the Restore work and where is it?

Yeah.

So the Restore is in North Topeka.

Right outside the Noto Arts District.

121 northeast Gordon and the Restore really is our primary fundraiser.

So individuals, businesses, donates any kind of home improvement items, building materials, doors, windows, whatever, you name it.

Those items get donated to us.

We resell those items to the community.

And so we raise money through that resale.

But we also offer everything that we sell at a significant discount, because we also feel like that's a way that we can serve the community.

We can help homeowners, maintain their properties in an affordable way by offering items for a fraction of the cost at our Restore.

And it's all full circle that way.

And I love it because if you say you're cleaning, this happened to me like you're cleaning a ceiling fan.

And one of the lights broke off and I'm, where am I going to find this?

Because it's at least 20 years old.

Somebody might have donated one you can restore.

Probably find it out.

The Restore.

I always tell people not only is that a really great, affordable option, but if you live in a like a historic home or a home that has very specific characteristics, you maybe don't want to go to a big box store and purchase something modern and new.

You maybe want to try to come and find a match for a doorknob or a light fixture.

And there's a really good chance that you can find sort of the Restore.

And if you can't find it right away at the Restore, if you ask one of our volunteers, they probably can give you some sort of a lead on what you're meeting.

So stock the gamut to not just appliances and that type of thing.

Furniture.

Yeah, really great furniture.

Really cool vintage pieces.

Lumber.

We've had tons of lumber, which is really pricey to go out and buy.

And so if you're just doing a small project and you can come get your lumber from us, it saves you money.

It puts money back into our reserve to keep building houses.

So really, it's kind of a win win for everybody.

And we are in a full recruitment stage for more help with the Restore.

And so we are hosting the first of, two already scheduled restore volunteer nights.

So individuals that want to kind of learn about how the restore works and what we do there are invited to come to our community volunteer night, the first of which is next Tuesday.

And then there's one in July.

We invite anyone to come and bring their kiddos that are 12 or older and to really learn about what we do at the restore and hopefully sign up to help us as much as possible.

And one of the cool things is you pick up if somebody has a staff, a used washing machine that still works, they can come now, how does that work?

You call in and say, hey, can you pick up a sofa?

Yep.

You call in our restore team will take care of you.

They'll get some information from you, fit you into the schedule.

But, yeah, they go out on pickups multiple days a week.

All day long.

Sometimes two trucks at a time.

So we are always out in the community and are happy to talk about coming to pick up.

I think that's wonderful.

In the in the kids.

I mean, you mentioned bringing your kids along because they can learn the importance of giving back and doing for others.

Yeah, I think we have created a very familial environment at Topeka Habitat.

So we have opportunities for for almost any age.

So we have community, revitalization projects that we work on with our toolbox.

You can really bring almost any kid out with that as long as they're with the parent 12 and up at our restore 16 and up at our build site, we have internships for youth that are interested in learning building trades.

We have placements for Washburn students.

We just want to be a learning opportunity that helps serve the community.

And hopefully when people walk away from us, they have more skills than they started with and that's so important.

I have to ask about animals.

Are animals welcome to be in the homes for habitat for humanity?

Oh, so our homeowners own their home.

We just act as the bank in that way.

And so absolutely, our homeowners can have their animals with them.

And, every once in a while, we get to have a visit from a, dog or, you know, sometimes we get puppies every once in a while, but, it always makes us smile.

But.

Yeah, absolutely.

We love you both.

Oh, that is all the time we have for this episode of IGI.

If you have any comments or suggestions for future topics, please send us an email at issues@ktwu.org If you would like to view this program again or any previous episodes of IGI vist us online at watch.ktwu.org and we thank you Nikki and Janice.

Yay!

Thank you.

(MUSIC) This program on KTWU view is brought to you by Friends of KTWU.

We appreciate your financial support.

Thank you.