Stronger Together: Insights and Inspiration from the Habitat Midwest Regional Conference

Framework Homeownership was a proud sponsor of the first-ever Habitat for Humanity Midwest Regional Conference.  

At Framework, we believe the best solutions happen when great ideas and passionate people come together—and that’s exactly what the Habitat for Humanity Midwest Regional Conference delivered. Hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Iowa, Habitat for Humanity of Illinois, and Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota, this inaugural event brought together a wide range of housing leaders ready to share, learn, and collaborate.

The conference was held in Minnesota, about an hour south of the Twin Cities. Skyways kept us warm, and the energy inside the event reminded us of a Prince concert. Over two packed days, we connected with Habitats from all over the Midwest, and showcased our newly launched custom course we built for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.

Here’s a look at a few ideas and insights we’re bringing home:

1. Big or Small, Same Mission: Sustainable Homeownership 

One thing that stood out right away? No two Habitat affiliates are the same. Some serve multiple counties with big teams; others run on volunteer power and small but mighty teams.

Every Habitat affiliate tailors its programs to meet local housing needs, which vary based on population, geography, weather, and social impact. We’ve heard so many stories from affiliates in the Midwest about focusing on single-family homes —from new home construction to rehab work that helps folks stay in the homes they already own. 

We chatted with folks about the importance of educating homeowners on maintenance tips, which is one of the reasons we launched the Framework Home Maintenance 101 course last year—to empower homeowners to maintain their homes for the long haul and avoid costly repairs down the line. 

2. USDA Housing Programs: A Perfect Fit 

We kept hearing about how much several folks love using Framework, specifically the Framework Homebuyer Education course for USDA housing programs. The USDA has a variety of single-family housing programs that make homeownership attainable for many living in rural and suburban communities, and it’s exciting to see how Framework is helping make that path smoother. 

It’s a reminder that the right tools can make a big difference in the right hands.  

3. Community Action Agencies: Better Together 

One breakout session that really stuck with us was Strength in Partnership: How Habitat and Community Action Agencies Can Transform Housing Together where we learned how Habitat Greater La Crosse Region teamed up with their local Community Action Agencies (CAA). Together, they’ve been able to share resources, stretch funding, celebrate each other’s wins, and create a bigger impact than they could have done alone. 

Kahya Fox, the Executive Director of Habitat Greater La Crosse Region, shared how they partnered with Couleecap, their local CAA, to make the most of their resources and serve the community. They shared some great examples about how the two organizations have come together to celebrate one another, host local events, pair up for funding, and ultimately keep dollars within the community to continue to serve the individuals living and working within so that other Habitat affiliates might foster similar relationships to benefit their communities.  

Their story made it clear: strong local partnerships aren’t just nice to have—they’re a game-changer for communities.  

4. Grant Funding: Play the Long Game 

Grants can be tricky to navigate, but one key takeaway from the session Unlocking Resources: Navigating the Grant Funding Landscape was simple: think bigger and longer term. Instead of chasing short-term, one-off project funding, frame your initiative as a long-term program. That way, you can extend your funding request and focus on sustained impact over time.  

Tracking outcomes over time helps build a powerful story—and it can unlock bigger grant opportunities down the line.  

Measuring homeownership success indicators like mortgage delinquency, foreclosure rates, and home equity growth can build a powerful story. That’s why we’re building a dashboard experience that can help housing leaders measure their impact on homeownership outcomes.

5. Navigating Burnout: Take Care to Take Charge 

Nonprofit work is deeply rewarding—and it’s also demanding.  

Former Habitat for Humanity International Senior Director of Global Programs Krista Padgett’s keynote on burnout hit home.  

Padgett shared how misalignment in these six key areas can contribute to burnout:  

• workload
• control  
• reward
• community
• fairness
• values  

Check in with yourself and reflect on where you find fulfillment and where you feel drained before it gets overwhelming. If we want to keep showing up for our communities, we have to take care of ourselves first.  

BONUS: Framework Homeownership Learning Platform: Supporting Every Step

At the heart of everything we do is the belief that education and support go beyond the closing table.  

The Framework platform helps organizations stay connected to their homeowners at every stage of the journey—from first-time buyer education to post-purchase resources like home maintenance, financial wellness, and beyond. It’s about more than getting families into homes—it’s about helping them stay there, thrive, and build generational stability.  

Check out how we’re helping Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity launch their custom homebuyer education—all powered by Framework to do exactly that.  

Leaving the conference, we’re more energized than ever to keep building partnerships, supporting affiliates, and helping homeowners thrive for the long haul.