Angela Philips of Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas: How We Are Helping To Make Housing More Affordable
An Interview With Jason Hartman
It can be lonely in a top leadership position. You cannot always share the decisions you are faced with others and there are few people to confide in or seek advice from that you can trust, especially when making sensitive business decisions that can affect so many.
In many large cities in the US, there is a crisis caused by a shortage of affordable housing options. This has led to a host of social challenges. In this series called “How We Are Helping To Make Housing More Affordable” we are talking to successful business leaders, real estate leaders, and builders, who share the initiatives they are undertaking to create more affordable housing options in the US.
As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Angela Philips of Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas.
Angela Philips serves as the Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas. With a keen ability to help the local community, Philips has spent 23 years contributing to the overall success of nonprofit organizations and the individuals they support. Philips has worked in both nonprofit and government sectors guiding social services and funding for the greater area of Las Vegas. Philips has dedicated her life’s work to helping causes such as foster care, homelessness, and housing accommodations — by establishing affordable housing in the valley and helping families find the perfect home.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
As a young child, I experienced a lot of instability moving between different states and attending many different elementary schools. In 1991, my parents moved us to Las Vegas permanently and I attended both junior high and high school here. At eighteen years old, I began working at a local non-profit and found my true passion. I have always enjoyed working alongside people who have a passion for creating change in our community.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
A more recent significant story was the day I attended my first Habitat home dedication in October 2018. I was hired as the Director of Homeowner Services in February 2018 and began working with our future homeowners in the stage of the process where they were completing their sweat equity hours, financial education, first-time homebuyer courses, and preparing their documents for a home closing. It had been such an emotional process for this particular homeowner, and we were getting close to the day her homeownership dreams would become a reality. She had worked so hard to get to this point and faced barriers that were at no fault of her own and just wanted a forever home to call her own for her and her son. The day had finally arrived, and we were there to celebrate all her accomplishments. The ceremony was beautiful and emotional throughout, but the moment the keys were handed to her is one, I would never forget. I witnessed the physical effects of the weight of the world being lifted off her shoulders. The homeowner let out a deep sigh of relief, relaxed her shoulders, and at that time it really sank in that she reached the finish line. She would never have to stress again about providing her son a safe, stable place to live and could now focus on creating new memories in their new home. For me, that was the moment I realized the true impact of homeownership and it solidified that I was in the place I was meant to be. Since then, I have had the privilege to witness that moment numerous times and it continues to motivate me to work harder for those in our community that just need a hand up and not a handout.
Are you able to identify a “tipping point” in your career when you started to see success? Did you start doing anything different? Are there takeaways or lessons that others can learn from that?
At a previous non-profit organization, I had the privilege to be charged with enhancing our existing social service programming to remove barriers for our clients and identify ways we can lift them up without the restrictive parameters that can sometimes come from government funded programming. As a result, we were able to listen to what our clients felt they needed to be successful and meet them where they were versus us giving them what we think they need. As a result, I have continually tried to empower people to communicate and advocate on behalf of themselves. Because of this strategy, I have had the honor of witnessing so many people overcome the challenges they faced.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person to whom you are grateful who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
The person I would recognize that helped shape me into who I am today is Doug Coombs. He and I first started working together in 2012 when he became the Executive Director of a non-profit I was working at the time. He saw something in me that I didn’t and really invested his time in helping me grow into the person and leader I have become. He challenged me and gave me guidance, but also helped me figure out things on my own when I needed to trust my instincts. When I met him, I thought I was content being in a support role within the organization, but he helped bring out my desire to do more and fostered my ability to create social service programming and manage teams. If it wasn’t for him, I would have never gone back to school to get my master’s degree in public administration and most definitely wouldn’t be the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas. I am eternally grateful for his mentorship and friendship.
Do you have a book, podcast, or talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us? Can you explain why it was so resonant with you?
I love learning and always seek out resources that help me learn and grow. I love to listen to podcasts focused on non-profits but also business in general, because I feel that some of the business practices of a for-profit companies can be applied to our sector as well. My favorites are Nonprofits are Messy with Joan Garry, Nonprofit Everything with hosts Stacey Wedding and Andy Schuricht and Trading Secrets hosted by Jason Tartick. Each one of them brings in subject matter experts to speak or answer questions regarding a certain topic related to a relevant industry. I believe it is important to continually learn from others who have walked a similar path before you or have experienced challenges that we can all learn from.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
It’s so cliché, but my favorite quote is: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” It is important for me to continually push myself and make a greater impact than I did yesterday. I also try to practice what I expect of others, so I contribute not only financially, but also volunteer my time to other important causes in our community. Through these actions, I have instilled these values in my children because I believe that if all of us contribute what we can, all things are possible.
Ok super. Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion about the shortage of affordable housing. The lack of affordable housing has been a problem for a long time in the United States. But it seems that it has gotten a lot worse over the past five years, particularly in large cities. I know this is a huge topic, but for the benefit of our readers can you briefly explain to our readers what brought us to this place? Where did this crisis come from?
The affordable housing crisis we are experiencing today is a result of a housing supply issue that has been present for many years and was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2007, when the Great Recession began, the construction of new homes fell significantly increasing buyer demand. This demand led to fewer homes being available and drove up the housing prices, pricing many out of the market, especially impacting communities of color and low-to-moderate income families. The pandemic heightened this already serious situation, leading to a larger ripple effect for communities. Adding to this, the long-term effects of the pandemic have left many across the country struggling to make their housing payments, facing food insecurity, and struggling to get their basic needs met. Although wages have increased in many communities, so have rents and housing prices limiting even further the options available to those in need.
In Nevada, 1 in 6 households spend more than half their income on housing — — 81% of renters and 59% of homeowners are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing. In 2021, the number of homes available for purchase dropped to the lowest level since 2000 with only 4% of homes available that are considered starter homes.
Can you describe to our readers how your work is making an impact to address this crisis? Can you share some of the initiatives you are leading to help correct this issue?
For over 30 years, Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas has built new, single-family affordable homes for homeownership opportunities to low-to-moderate income families in Clark County. Our homes are sold at no profit through a no-interest mortgage underwritten and serviced by Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas that does not exceed 30% of the family’s gross monthly income. Their monthly mortgage payments are consistent and do not fluctuate during the life of the loan providing them the ability to financially plan for the long-term. This is key to keeping families stably housed when the housing market is experiencing pricing fluctuations causing rental prices to increase significantly, pricing many out of the market. Our Habitat homeowners have the ability to plan for their critical needs such as healthcare, clothing, food, and long-term expenses without the financial burden and worry of potential rent increases. In addition, if a family suffers a job loss, medical incident/disability, etc., as the Lender, Habitat can work with the family to develop a loss mitigation plan to restructure their mortgage to assist them in maintaining their housing during challenging times.
Another way we help strengthen our community is to provide low-to-moderate households with the needed knowledge and financial tools to create an emergency fund, pay off debt, create a realistic budget, decipher between needs versus wants, and more through our Financial Peace Project financial education courses. This helps families gain stability and provides them the tools to financially plan for their future. In addition to making the dream of affordable home ownership a reality, we improve existing homes through our critical home repair program for those impacted by age, disability, or family circumstances that are hindered to afford important home maintenance for sustaining, preservation, and safety through our A Brush with Kindness revitalization program.
Can you share something about your work that makes you most proud? Is there a particular story or incident that you found most uplifting?
I have worked in the non-profit sector my whole career, so I am very lucky to have been able to experience so many wonderful moments, and it’s hard to choose! Throughout my career, I have worked in social services focused on foster care, workforce development, homelessness, food insecurity, basic needs assistance, and now affordable housing. The work of a nonprofit is never done, so we need to continually pivot, innovate, and collaborate to make the world better than it was yesterday. This is what motivates me. This work has challenged me in ways that I never thought possible, but as a result, I have continued to grow both professionally and personally. The work and opportunities I get every day are gifts that I do not take for granted. I believe that anything is possible if you work hard, dream big, and challenge the status quo.
In your opinion, what should other home builders do to further address these problems?
Community partnerships and collaboration are the key to increasing the affordable housing supply. We need to bring government, private, and nonprofit sectors together to benefit from the skill sets of each sector and collaborate to address the issue. We are grateful to all our partners from all sectors who have supported our vision as well as Habitat homeowners, yet we cannot work in silos. If we do not improve our work together, we slow the process towards a solution for affordable housing that has become a great crisis in our community. There are numerous successful examples of these types of collaborations working in other cities and it’s imperative that we evaluate these solutions to determine if they could work in our environment. Nevada currently has the greatest affordable housing shortage in the country, and we must act now. We cannot keep doing what we have been and expect a different result.
Can you share three things that the community and society can do to help you address the root of this crisis? Can you give some examples?
Consider donating your time, money, and talents to local non-profits that are focused on improving housing in your community. At Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas, we are in the business of helping others help themselves and show our homeowners that they are not only supported by us, but by their community as evidenced by the hundreds of volunteers that come out to build alongside them.
If you had the power to influence legislation, are there laws that you would like to see introduced that might help you in your work?
Encourage tax incentive programs to build affordable homes. Currently, in the multi-family rental space, investors can access tax credit programs such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and New Market Tax Credit that encourage private investment into an affordable housing development. These types of tax credit programs are not currently available for affordable housing programs focused on homeownership which makes it challenging to raise the capital to build at a larger scale.
Ensure that mortgage regulation enables, rather than burdens, safe access to affordable credit for all. Consumer financial protection regulations must strike a balance between protecting consumers from abuses and maintaining access to credit. Lower-income households are typically affected the most by tightened regulations, often resulting in higher costs, and thereby putting credit further from reach.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started leading my company” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
- It can be lonely in a top leadership position. You cannot always share the decisions you are faced with others and there are few people to confide in or seek advice from that you can trust, especially when making sensitive business decisions that can affect so many.
- Not everyone is led to do the right thing. It is often challenging to interface with people who say they want to help the community or a specific population, but let their own personal agendas outshine the cause they are trying to support.
- Competition is everywhere, even in non-profits. I think unintentionally potential funders create an environment where everyone is fighting for the same dollar or to partner with the best companies and forcing us to sometimes work against each other rather than WITH each other.
- Give yourself grace! You don’t have to know everything; rely on your staff and community to provide you support in areas you need.
- Having a decent work/life balance is a must. It is so easy to get caught up in everything you need to get done and lose sight of what’s important. Your mental health as a leader is just as important as everyone else’s. You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself first. Finding work/life balance needs to be a priority.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I feel that more people should be more inspired to help others without judgement. There is a current trend on TikTok that demonstrates how a little kindness goes along way for people who need it most.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
MacKenzie Scott. Over the past few years, she has made significant unrestricted gifts to the non-profit sector in the areas of housing, education, after-school programming, and healthcare without asking for anything in return. My organization was one of those recipients and it was such a generous gesture that has provided us the opportunity to think differently and strategize how the funds can best be utilized to support our organization. I would love the opportunity to learn more about her desire to help others and hear her ideas on how we can encourage others to do the same.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Please follow us on our social media platforms: @HabitatLasVegas on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn at Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas
This was very meaningful, thank you so much, and we wish you only continued success.
About The Interviewer: Jason Hartman is the Founder and CEO of Empowered Investor. Jason has been involved in several thousand real estate transactions and has owned income properties in 11 states and 17 cities. Empowered Investor helps people achieve The American Dream of financial freedom by purchasing income property in prudent markets nationwide. Jason’s Complete Solution for Real Estate Investors™ is a comprehensive system providing real estate investors with education, research, resources and technology to deal with all areas of their income property investment needs. Through Jason’s podcasts, educational events, referrals, mentoring and software to track your investments, investors can easily locate, finance and purchase properties in these exceptional markets with confidence and peace of mind.
Starting with very little, Jason, while still in college at the age of 19, embarked on a career in real estate. While brokering properties for clients, he was investing in his own portfolio along the way. Through creativity, persistence and hard work, he earned a number of prestigious industry awards and became a young multi-millionaire. Jason purchased a California real estate brokerage firm that was later acquired by Coldwell Banker. He combined his dedication and business talents to become a successful entrepreneur, public speaker, author, and media personality. Over the years he developed his Complete Solution for Real Estate Investors™ where his innovative firm educates and assists investors in acquiring prudent investments nationwide for their portfolio. Jason’s sought after educational events, speaking engagements, and his popular “Creating Wealth Podcast” inspire and empower hundreds of thousands of people in 189 countries worldwide.
While running his successful real estate and media businesses, Jason also believes that giving back to the community plays an important role in building strong personal relationships. He established The Jason Hartman Foundation in 2005 to provide financial literacy education to young adults providing the all-important real world skills not taught in school which are the key to the financial stability and success of future generations. We’re in a global monetary crisis caused by decades of misguided policies and the cycle of financial dependence has to be broken, literacy and self-reliance are a good start. Visit JasonHartman.com for free materials and resources.
Angela Philips of Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas: How We Are Helping To Make Housing More… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.