Building hope: Hall steps into director role at Habitat for Humanity

In December, Drew Hall stepped into the role of executive director at Habitat for Humanity of Medina County (HFHMC). He assumed the position from Tom O’Connell, who is now executive director at the Medina Metropolitan Housing Authority.

“I’m trying to continue the really good work that Tom started in his six years here, and I’ve got awfully big shoes to fill,” Hall said. “My principal concern is figuring out how to bring the people, funding and capacity together to serve more families.”

He has the experience to help make that happen. He spent the last six years as vice president and chief development officer at Habitat for Humanity of Summit County. Prior to that, he served as director of development for Medina County United Way and is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Medina County’s Signature Program. He and his wife, Emily, have lived in Medina for the past 12 years, and their two young sons attend school here.

Hall will oversee all aspects of HFHMC operations, including home construction, resource development, community partnerships, ReStore operations and homeowner services.

A primary focus for Hall is increasing the availability of affordable housing in Medina County.

“It is intrinsically linked with bringing business into this community. Finding a home that a family can afford to work and live in the community is a challenge now with home values going up,” he said.

“Issues that you care about – health equity, educational outcomes and financial stability – are directly tied back to housing affordability,” Hall said.

“When kids grow up in stable housing, they perform better on almost every metric of social, emotional and academic development. When parents aren’t worried about making the rent and know where they’re going to bed at night, they have higher job retention rates. It’s the shift away from instability to stability that allows families to pay down debt, build generational wealth and position their families for long-term stability.”

In the last six years, Medina County’s Habitat for Humanity built and sold 16 safe and affordable homes through its Homeownership Program. A 17th home is nearing completion in Wadsworth, and several others are in the planning stages.

“Some families just need a push to get to a place where they can take over. That’s one of the great things about our Homeownership Program,” Hall said.

He described how family members develop a stake in their success by completing the application and needs assessment, financial education classes and the required “sweat equity” hours working at build sites or in the ReStore. After qualifying for a zero-interest mortgage, they can purchase the home.

HFHMC also recognizes that some senior citizens need help to stay safely in homes they already own. In partnership with the Medina County Office of Older Adults, the Aging in Place Program provides accessibility and mobility modification repairs to county residents ages 60 and older. The Office of Older Adults handles the intake process and sends referrals to Habitat.

Habitat construction team members Gordon Cordes and Tyler Etherington work with homeowners on projects such as building ramps and installing handrails and door handles. For more information about the Aging in Place Program, call 330-723-9514.

Hall said one of the best parts of his new position is the network of strong county, corporate and community partners. He cited examples such as Do It Best, which donates tools, hardware, building supplies and appliances. Churches have provided volunteers and parking lots for teams to build house walls. In April, another wall-building event will be held in a parking lot provided by Ravago Medina.

“Our partnership with the Medina County Land Bank has been instrumental in bringing Welcome Home Ohio funding into this community, which is supporting the construction of several of our new home builds,” Hall said.

Hall invited anyone in the community who cares about affordable housing to call HFHMC at 330-722-4494 or visit medinahabitat.org.

“Whether it’s coming to volunteer in our ReStore, hammering nails on a build site or helping through philanthropy, there is an opportunity for everyone to get plugged into the work we’re doing,” he said.