Reflecting on Humanity

RETIREMENTS // BY TERRY TROY

John Habat is stepping down after 10 years of leadership at Habitat.

As John Habat, president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, steps down later this year, he leaves behind an organization poised for growth well into the future decade. He also leaves behind a legacy of more than 10 years helping hundreds of families realize the dream of homeownership. Perhaps even more importantly, he leaves behind an organization that is empathetic to its core.

Before he entered a professional career of community service that dates back to 1979, Habat was a victim of housing instability. Born into a family with 10 siblings, his family often had to move to flee domestic violence or substance abuse problems — challenges he doesn’t often mention when asked about his work today.

“John has been an exceptional leader and friend,” says Michael Owendoff, board chairman for Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity. “In his decade of service to the Habitat mission, John has impacted the lives of hundreds of families by helping to make the dream of homeownership a reality. His work to revitalize Cleveland’s neighborhoods will be felt by generations to come.

“While finding a successor who can match his dedication, compassion and unwavering advocacy for our mission will be no small feat, we are confident that we will find the right candidate to fill this important role,” Owendoff notes.

He adds that the advance notice Habat provided, as well as a deliberate process of succession planning, gives the organization ample time to recruit and identify a strong candidate while maintaining stability and continuity within the organization.

“When I first joined Habitat, we were basically on life support,” says Habat. “There really wasn’t a longterm strategy, it was a day-by-day deal just to survive. You couldn’t talk about the next three years, you had to talk about the next three weeks.”

It’s not an ideal situation when you are tasked with building houses, which often require economic feasibility studies, lengthy permits and extensive construction planning.

Habat has transformed Habitat, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, into a forward-thinking and planning organization that is approaching its 350th house.

“By the time all is said and done, I will have helped build about 200 houses during my tenure,” says Habat. “I am proud to have been able to participate in bringing housing stability to these families. I know what it means personally, and it gives me a lot of joy to know that I could be a part of it in some way.”

While most folks would think that building Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity from an organization of just five employees a little more than 10 years ago to a nonprofit with more than 60 people today as the most impactful and satisfying accomplishment of a career of community service, it’s not the most important to Habat.

“While I’m proud of what I have been able to accomplish at Habitat, I consider my most important accomplishment to be my help in passage of House Bill 378, which provides funds for families who adopt children with special needs,” says Habat. “That bill was passed in 1979, and the guy who really led the charge was [former state representative and Ohio House speaker] Bill Batchelder, which is a little incongruous because he was mister conservative back in the day. But, he was advancing a bill that would have the state pay for extra services. I think my efforts on that bill probably impacted more people of need than my community involvement at any other organization.”

So what’s ahead? Is there a fishing pole, travel or long cruises in the near future? Hardly.

“I don’t call it retirement as much as I call it reengagement,” says Habat. “I don’t want to be the boss, but I still want to serve others in some capacity.”

So, in addition to his efforts in providing a seamless transition for the next Habitat for Humanity CEO, Habat will be exploring other community service roles — which will no doubt have a positive impact on the community for years to come. 

John Habat