Building Connections, Creating Opportunities: HomeAid at NAHB’s Association Management Conference

There is something special about being in a room filled with people who are passionate about the building industry and the communities they serve. Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Association Management Conference (AMC), and once again, I was reminded just how valuable these connections are for HomeAid America.

More than 200 Executive Officers (EOs) and HBA staff from across the country came together for three days of education, networking, and conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing their associations and communities. The attendees represented everything from large metropolitan associations to state and rural associations, making AMC a unique opportunity to connect with leaders from communities of all sizes.

For HomeAid, being part of AMC is about much more than being a sponsor. It is about being present.

Putting HomeAid in the Conversation

HomeAid has proudly sponsored AMC for many years, and we continue to see tremendous value in being part of this event. It gives us the opportunity to reconnect with the association leaders in communities where HomeAid already has a presence, while also introducing HomeAid to leaders who may not yet know who we are or understand the impact our model can have in their communities.

And those introductions matter.

Every conversation is an opportunity to share the HomeAid story—to explain how we bring together the building industry, community leaders, service providers, and volunteers to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through construction, community engagement, and education.

Sometimes that conversation lasts only a few minutes. Other times, it turns into a much deeper discussion about what is happening in a particular community and whether HomeAid could be part of the solution.

At AMC, I had the opportunity to share the HomeAid elevator pitch with more than half of the attendees. While that may sound like a lot of conversations—and it was!—the most exciting part was what happened when those quick introductions turned into meaningful discussions.

Building Relationships in Key Expansion Markets

One of the most valuable parts of AMC was the opportunity to spend more time with Executive Officers from Raleigh and Charlotte, two communities that are important expansion markets for HomeAid.

These conversations allow us to go beyond simply talking about HomeAid. We can begin to understand the community, learn what the local building industry is experiencing, identify potential champions, and explore whether there is a genuine opportunity to bring the HomeAid model to the market.

Even more encouraging, several EOs approached me during the conference to learn more about HomeAid and discuss the possibility of having us conduct due diligence in their communities. Those conversations are exciting because they represent something bigger than brand awareness. They represent curiosity, interest, and the possibility of finding new communities where HomeAid can make a difference.

Relationships Are at the Heart of What We Do

I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to connect with NAHB CEO Jim Tobin and Jim Chapman, a former HomeAid Georgia Builder Captain who now serves as NAHB’s Third Vice President.

Seeing someone who has been part of the HomeAid family move into a leadership role at the national level is a great reminder of the incredible network of people who have supported HomeAid over the years.

These relationships matter. The building industry has always been an important part of HomeAid’s story, and continuing to build strong relationships with industry leaders helps ensure that HomeAid remains part of the conversation when communities are looking for meaningful ways to address homelessness.

And the Conversations Continue

AMC may be over, but the conversations are not. In Nashville, Tennessee, we are continuing to work toward a recruitment event later this year as we explore the potential for a HomeAid presence in that market. In Central Florida, we continue to gather information and connect with companies and individuals who are interested in becoming involved and helping us better understand the opportunity there.

And Raleigh and Charlotte remain important areas of focus as we continue building relationships and exploring what a HomeAid presence could look like.

It Starts With a Conversation

Growing HomeAid’s reach across the country doesn't happen overnight. It starts with a conversation. It starts with meeting the right person, learning about a community, listening to its needs, and finding the people who believe that the building industry can play an important role in creating solutions to homelessness.

Sometimes that happens at a conference. And sometimes it starts with a simple question: “Have you heard of HomeAid?” AMC gave us the opportunity to ask that question hundreds of times—and, perhaps more importantly, opened the door to many conversations that will continue long after the conference ended.

We are excited to see where those conversations lead. This version is intentionally more personal and conversational while still keeping HomeAid’s mission, industry relationships, and expansion strategy front and center. It should feel like a person from HomeAid sharing what happened and why it matters, rather than an organizational recap.