Habitat for Humanity looks for new leadership

by Ashleigh Behlmann

SBJ Contributing Writer

sbj@sbj.net

Donna Jones has stepped down after seven years as executive director at Habitat for Humanity of Springfield.

Jones accepted the position as director of development for Council of Churches of the Ozarks in January.

Habitat for Humanity has divided Jones' previous position into two new positions executive director and director of development. It is a change that Jones endorses. "The executive committee has made some decisions that really make me feel comfortable about leaving," she said.

Bill Compere and Denise Bischof are filling the positions on an interim basis while Habitat for Humanity conducts a search for permanent replacements. The organization hopes to have these positions filled within 30 to 120 days. Robin Melton, owner of Environmental Works Inc., is president of Habitat for Humanity's Board of Directors and part of a seven-person search committee working to find and hire the new directors.

"The sooner the better, of course, but we don't want to hurry the process. It's very important to us to get the right person in the right job," said Melton.

The executive director position was divided into two positions, Melton said, because "the affiliate has gotten bigger. We feel that more time needs to be spent on development, fundraising and community relations. And there are a lot more things to manage: lots of volunteers and the ReStore, as well as building the houses and managing all of the mortgage payments."

The executive director will oversee all programs and services of Habitat, and handle all business and accounting issues related to the organization and to the ReStore. The director of development will oversee fundraising and community relations.

The positions have been advertised locally, Melton said, and there have been about 30 applications turned in so far.

Habitat for Humanity is seeking individuals who will help it attain its ambitious goals for 2004. The organization hopes to move from building about eight houses a year to building 10 in 2004.

"We don't have all of the funding yet, but we are hopeful as the year progresses, to attain more donors and more funds. We want to grow, we want to do more, and we think that Springfield and the surrounding areas can support that," said Melton.

Habitat's 10-house goal is part of a five-year growth plan.

"We have been staying right around seven to eight houses per year last year we built eight. When I came here, we were building four to six. We have projected to build 10 this year, then the plan is to add two per year until 2008, when we will be building 18 per year," said Jones. Habitat for Humanity's Springfield affiliate has built 63 homes since it was formally incorporated in 1988. To participate in Habitat for Humanity's program, applicants must demonstrate need, the ability to repay the Habitat loan, the ability to work well with Habitat staff and community members, and the willingness to assist in building their home and receive education on maintaining it.

An important part of Habitat's recent growth is a program Jones brought to the area: the ReStore. The ReStore sells donated and salvaged building materials to raise funds to build Habitat homes.

"When I was first hired, I started going to our executive director conferences, which put us in touch with nationwide affiliates and the people running them. In 1997, I came home with an idea that I had not heard very much about. I heard that there were these ReStores all over the country there were 32 of them at the time. I became interested in the idea because we were looking for ways to become more self-sufficient," Jones said. Jones brought the idea before the board of directors, and Springfield's ReStore opened in the summer of 1999.

Habitat's ReStore sells a variety of items used for home improvement. It acquires these goods through its own deconstruction efforts and through donations.

"Somebody else created the idea and made it work elsewhere," Jones said. "It's just that we brought it here and it took a strong hold in the community. The money helps us build houses, and we are having a positive impact on the environment while helping others make improvements to their properties. It doesn't matter what you are selling, somebody needs it."

Profits from the ReStore have greatly augmented the funds for Habitat for Humanity's Springfield affiliate. Additionally, the store is performing better than expected. "Our sales at the ReStore skyrocketed. For the budget year of 2003, we had projected sales of $170,000. We passed $234,000," Jones said.

While the new directors have great challenges to meet, habitat officials are confident that the Springfield affiliate will be successful in achieving its goals because of strong community support. The organization is not yet finished compiling numbers for 2003, but Jones said that in 2002, more than 2,500 volunteers contributed more than 22,000 hours of their time.