Building a Better Future: Habitat Affiliates Gather to Explore Offsite, Sustainable Construction
On May 20, 2025, Habitat for Humanity affiliates from across New York State came together in Syracuse for our “Raising the Future” Symposium, a full-day intensive educational event focused on offsite, sustainable, and climate-resilient building strategies. This event brought together affiliate leaders, construction professionals, and mission-driven innovators to share ideas and explore practical solutions for advancing affordable homeownership across the state.
From modular construction to panelized systems and hybrid models, affiliates discussed how offsite strategies can help Habitat build smarter, faster, and more sustainably without compromising quality or affordability. With the need for affordable housing growing, embracing innovation is key to expanding our impact. We are grateful for all those who attended and shared their experiences and questions to help deepen our understanding of how offsite building strategies can be leveraged to advance Habitat’s mission.
A Special Thanks to Our Presenters and Panelists
We are sincerely grateful to the experts and leaders who generously donated their time, insights, and expertise to our symposium. Their presentations and candid conversations helped connect theory with practice and inspired affiliates to take actionable next steps.
Thank you to our presenters and panelists:
- Amy Anselm, Construction Expert, former Housing Specialist with HFHI
- Edwin Hensley, Director, US Construction, Habitat for Humanity International
- Jeff Knox, CEO & Owner, Bill Lake Modular Homes
- Christa Swistak, COO, Bill Lake Modular Homes
- Marjorie McAllister, Assistant Program Director, HOME Program at New York State Homes & Community Renewal
- Andrew J. Leo, SVP Home Lending Sales Manager, NBT BANK
- Alex Fox, Director of Business Development – NY, Sustainable Comfort, Inc.
- Sarah Bruce, Executive Director, Syracuse Habitat for Humanity
- Christine Brady Lavalle, Executive Director, Ulster County Habitat for Humanity
- Rick Folger, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Habitat for Humanity Buffalo
- Christopher Kennedy, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Buffalo
A very special thanks to Habitat for Humanity International for providing financial support to the event so it could be provided to affiliates free-of-charge.
Session Resources
Below you’ll find links to materials from each of the four symposium sessions. These resources are available to help extend the learning and spark new ideas as affiliates explore what’s possible in your communities.
Session 1: Introduction to Offsite Construction PDF LINK
Session 2: Logistics and Quality Assurance PDF LINK
Session 3: Funding and Financing PDF LINK
Session 4: Planning an Offsite Strategy Workshop PDF LINK
As we look to the future, we remain committed to supporting affiliates in their pursuit of bold, creative strategies to meet the urgent need for housing.
Thank you to all who joined us in Syracuse, together, we are building a stronger, more resilient New York!