Stephens named Audubon Area's new housing director
Jeremy Stephens will officially leave his post as executive director of Habitat for Humanity Owensboro-Daviess County on May 30.
The organization made the announcement last week that Stephens was stepping down for a new job opportunity but it was unknown at that time where he was landing.
Stephens said on Thursday that he accepted Audubon Area's housing director position.
'It's the same field — affordable housing,' Stephens said. 'It's just on the rental side of it, managing the seven multi-unit facilities they have there.'
Stephens was hired in November 2021 to become Habitat's second executive director, taking over for Virginia Braswell, who served in the role for 29 years before she retired.
'It was a whirlwind following her around,' Stephens said.
Prior to coming to Habitat, Stephens, a 47-year-old Owensboro native, had been the director of operations of the Owensboro Symphony for eight years.
Stephens described the transition as going from 'music to mortar,' admitting he had no background in construction when he took over.
'The board took a chance on me and I will forever be grateful for that,' he said.
According to Stephens, his goal from the start was to increase Habitat's footprint within Daviess County.
'I think it's why they hired me because in the interview I said I wanted to grow the mission,' Stephens said. '…I know what it's like to struggle for affordable housing. I remember straight out of college with a baby, a family with one income, and what my wife and I went through in those days was hard.
'So when I got the job, I went to the (Habitat) board the very first meeting, and said I want to build more houses per year. I've had their support the whole time.'
When Stephens started, there were 141 Habitat houses built within Owensboro-Daviess County.
When he leaves, the number of homes will be at 167.
Under development is the Carter Community Court, a 10-home Habitat neighborhood that broke ground in April 2024. It currently has two homes under construction and foundations poured for others.
Stephens said he had been working on the Carter Community Court project almost since the beginning of his Habitat tenure.
Stephens added that he wanted to ensure the project, which was funded through a state grant and a $1 million contribution from Daviess Fiscal Court, would be on sound footing before he left.
'In a perfect scenario, I would have liked to have seen it all of the way through,' Stephens said. '…Walking away from this project knowing that the infrastructure component is complete, houses are being built and can be until they're finished; they have enough materials — already purchased — to build almost 100% of the houses. …It's huge for me knowing that even with me leaving it will still go.'
Along with the Habitat homes, Stephens led the effort to build the Ms. Virginia's Education & Training Center, 2900 West Fourth St., that opened in September 2024. Its purpose is to educate both the agency's clients and the general public about the intricacies of home ownership, from building codes to repairs.
Stephens said it was being awarded a $100,000 Impact100 grant that made possible the training facility, which is the only one of its kind in the country.
'That's definitely one of the high marks of my career here,' Stephens said. 'First, to win the Impact100 grant is huge; I came from an organization that had never won it and I had written it a lot there.'
For Stephens, the decision to leave Habitat wasn't an easy one, calling it 'fulfilling' as he plans to remain on as a consultant until his replacement is found.
'…It's not that I'm getting paid more; it's that I'll have more time at home,' said Stephens about a deciding factor to move to Audubon Area. ...I'll be able to call it a day, go home and coach ball teams — be more present for my family.'
Habitat is accepting applications for its executive director position until July 1, with the goal to have a new director in place by Sept. 1.
And in the future, Habitat will also be looking to develop an even larger area than Carter Community Court after Owensboro Health announced earlier this month the donation of 17 parcels of land near its Parrish Avenue campus.
Stephens said it has been the homeowners who put in the sweat equity and the volunteers who have made Habitat special for him.
'I think what I'm going to miss the most are the applicants; it's going to be very easy to cheer from a distance when they get into their homes,' Stephens said. 'But it's going to be difficult not being the person handing them the keys.'
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