Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities is facing success stories, challenging times and changing times.
The nonprofit group continues to bring an army of volunteers together to build new homes, renovate old homes, build wheelchair ramps and many other projects. And the organization is getting ready to celebrate its 30th anniversary in the Quad Cities.
But these also are challenging times. Habitat for Humanity is facing rising prices for building materials, a national crisis in affordable housing and supply chain problems.
The person facing those challenges and working to have more success stories is Tom Fisher-King, the group’s new executive director. And he says those challenges are serious, but his top priority is getting more volunteers.
“The largest challenge we have right now is volunteers. COVID hit our volunteer base. … We ask people to give up every Saturday for almost a year,” said Mr. Fisher-King, who became the organization’s new executive director last September.
The Quad Cities organization has about 4,000 volunteers a year helping build and repair homes in the region. But as of early April, Habitat still needed more help. Topping that list is the need for lead construction workers – the people who supervise Habitat’s housing projects.
Those many volunteers not only help get projects done, but also help keep expenses down. (During a recent year, Habitat QC volunteers donated 27,000 hours for a value of $685,000, according to the local Habitat’s website at habitatqc.org.)
In addition to bringing in more volunteers, Mr. Fisher-King has been kept busy with the many jobs that come with being the executive director.
Some of his responsibilities include: keeping expenses down, being more efficient, learning the day-to-day operations of the organization, learning about grant cycles and much more.
“As an E.D. (executive director) you jump in wherever. … I take out garbage. I do whatever needs to be done,” he said with a laugh.
Mr. Fisher-King has been getting help with those many jobs from former Habitat Executive Director Kristi Crafton, who worked with the new boss during the transition period from September to this past January when she retired.
“She had a very successful run. I’m following her legacy,” he added.
He called Ms. Crafton a “very level-headed leader” who did a great job in leading Habitat for many years, and has been a great help in helping him transition to the new job.
Mr. Fisher-King said the goals of Habitat will remain the same – build homes and fix up homes for families in the community. As of mid-April, the organization was busy doing nine home projects – building five new homes and renovating four older houses that were purchased from the City of Davenport. (That renovation work includes kitchen, bathrooms, paint, flooring, roof and more.)
While Mr. Fisher-King is new to the executive director job, he is not new to the organization. He has been volunteering with Habitat Quad Cities since 2008, including service as a board member, board president and Family Selection Committee chair.
Before becoming executive director, he spent almost 28 years in the banking industry with Quad City Bank & Trust, eventually serving as first vice president of Real Estate Operations and Facilities Management.
“It was hard to leave (the bank) after 27 ½ years. But this is a great opportunity that I couldn’t pass up,” he said.
Mr. Fisher-King’s passion for Habitat got its spark in 2006 when he spent a week rebuilding houses in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
But that passion to provide quality, affordable housing has been with him almost his entire life.
“I was not raised a child of privilege. I grew up on the west side of Davenport. … It was then I learned that home was very important. … Habitat is a mission and a calling. I believe in affordable housing,” he said.
The goal of providing affordable housing in the community continues to face big challenges. In addition to needing more volunteers, other challenges include:
- Higher costs for almost everything. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the costs for building materials have gone up about 30%, said Mr. Fisher-King.
- The cost for housing continues to rise around the country. “Affordable housing is in crisis right now,” he added.
- And there continues to be delays and problems in getting materials because of supply chain woes.
Despite the challenges, this is also a time of celebration for the organization. This is Habitat’s 30th year in the Quad Cities. The organization will be celebrating that anniversary on Thursday, May 18, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport. The new executive director said he wants the event to be an open house celebration for volunteers, supporters, clients and other fans of Habitat for Humanity.
He is calling it a “30-20-10 celebration.” The event will honor Habitat’s 30 years in the Quad Cities, the 20th year of Habitat’s ReStore and 10th year of ReStore Quad Cities’ Health & Home store.
“I want it to be an open house. I want it to be three hours of celebrating and reminiscing,” he said.
Another event to help Habitat will be an golf outing – called Golf FORE Homes – set for Friday, June 9, at Indian Bluff Golf Course in Milan.
The upcoming events and ongoing work all have the goal of helping get people in homes.
“I love what we do. We accomplish things every day,” he said. “ I enjoy the gratefulness and motivation that Habitat brings to so many people. Everyone involved with Habitat is grateful to be part of the mission and impact that the organization brings to our partner families, to our communities and to each other.”
AT A GLANCE: TOM FISHER-KING
AGE: 52
JOB TITLE: Executive director of Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities.
BUSINESS ADDRESS: 3625 Mississippi Ave., Davenport.
EXPERIENCE WITH HABITAT: Mr. Fisher-King has been volunteering with Habitat Quad Cities since 2008, including service as a board member, board president and Family Selection Committee chair.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: He has almost 28 years in the banking industry, and was Quad City Bank & Trust’s first vice president of Real Estate Operations and Facilities Management before joining Habitat for Humanity last year.
HOBBIES: Traveling, spending time with family and friends, and working on projects around the house.
EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
AT A GLANCE: HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
HOME BUILDING: The Quad Cities group builds or renovates four to seven homes a year. These homes are purchased by families with a low down payment, a no-interest mortgage and with affordable monthly payments that are based on the family’s income. The organization has completed more than 130 homes, building in the cities of Davenport, East Moline, Milan, Moline, Rock Island and Silvis. Since 1993, Habitat families have paid back more than $1.4 million in local property taxes.
NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION: The group started this in 2015, committing to a multi-year presence while focusing on a specific neighborhood at a time.
HOME REPAIR PROGRAM: This program began in 2019 and focuses on repairs as well as construction of wheelchair ramps and other projects.
HABITAT RESTORE: Habitat’s retail store was launched in 2002. It accepts donations of new gently used building materials and home furnishings. In 2012, the group began to also accept donations of medical equipment.
WEB SITE: habitatqc.org
PHONE: (563) 359-9066.
