Scaling our Mission through Real Estate Development

In January, Habitat created a new department spearheaded by Jason Chamlee, Vice President of Real Estate Development. This strategic shift allows Habitat to take on opportunities for larger scale developments while continuing to also build with our traditional model. This year, Jason’s team laid the groundwork for collaborative community developments including affordable homeownership. With the rising cost of housing and the decreasing rate of homeownership, we must build more. Your support has allowed us to be bold. Together, we are building stronger and more inclusive communities. 

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Habitat began 40 years ago as a grassroots organization focused on partnering with individual families in need of adequate housing to build decent, stable homes. While this remains the core of our mission, Jason Chamlee is helping the organization see the bigger picture that has always existed. "We’re not just building houses; we’re addressing systemic issues like community revitalization and the wealth gap," he notes. 

Jason emphasizes that in America, homeownership is the primary vehicle for building wealth that can be passed down through generations. Habitat's model provides this opportunity to groups historically excluded from its benefits, serving as a powerful force to close the wealth gap. The Affordable Homeownership Program offers homeowners financial stability. Habitat homeowners secure a fixed mortgage for 25-30 years, creating a growing financial margin over time that empowers them to save and plan for the future. "It takes a generation to build generational wealth," Jason states, "and our model is designed to set families up for that long-term success". 

A key part of the vision is scaling up our efforts to achieve a transformational impact. He explains that while building one or two homes on a side street has obvious benefits for individual families, it takes time to "move the needle" in terms of neighborhood revitalization. However, building 15 homes in a concentrated area alongside other developments can be "catalytic" for an entire community. Jason stresses that the organization has been moving in this direction for most of the last decade and has seen transformational impacts in neighborhoods like Lockland and Lower Price Hill. Habitat is already responsible for roughly 10% of Cincinnati's annual affordable housing production, and Jason believes that by scaling up, the organization can be a difference maker in addressing the housing crisis.  

Habitat's goal is to evolve Habitat from a "boutique homebuilder—focused on building on scattered vacant lots—into a regional affordable housing developer". He envisions a future of strategic partnerships where affordable homeownership is integrated into many major developments. "When a market-rate developer gets pressured about affordability, I want them to point to us," he says. By working together, they can create vibrant, mixed-income communities where Habitat homeowners benefit directly from new investment and growth. 

Even with this ambitious expansion, Jason is firm about honoring Habitat's identity. "As we evolve, we’re staying true to who we’ve always been," he assures. The individual homeowner remains the centerpiece of Habitat, and the traditional model of building homes two at a time with volunteers will continue to account for two-thirds of projects. The shift, he clarifies, is about recognizing that "decent shelter" includes placing families in quality homes within thriving communities. By structuring for growth and saying "yes" to bigger opportunities, Jason is positioning Habitat to tackle the housing crisis, revitalize neighborhoods, and empower families with the stability and equity needed for a brighter future.