We recently connected with Mary Jo Hatchett and have shared our conversation below.

Mary Jo, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about how you got your first non-friend, non-family client. Paint the picture for us so we can feel the same excitement you felt on that day.

For nearly 20 years, I have dedicated my professional life to the non-profit housing sector, with a passion for creating safe, stable, and affordable housing solutions for individuals and families in need. My career began at Clark County Community Services, where I worked tirelessly to provide temporary housing for people living in poverty and to help individuals experiencing homelessness transition into permanent rental homes.

Throughout my career, I have witnessed firsthand the foundational role that housing plays in a person’s ability to address other challenges such as mental health, substance use, and financial instability. One story that has stayed with me involves a young woman who came to me at 18 years old with a newborn baby and no family support. Thanks to grant funding from Kentucky Housing, I was able to secure housing for her and her child. She committed herself to building a better life through budgeting, education, and multiple jobs. Despite living in a difficult neighborhood, surrounded by drug activity, she remained determined and eventually started her own cleaning business.

Years later, she approached me with a desire to move to a safer environment for her son. At the time, Habitat for Humanity of Madison and Clark Counties was accepting applications for new home builds. I supported her through the rigorous application process—collecting documents, organizing her business records, and preparing submissions. Her application was accepted, and she was given the opportunity to purchase a home—a place where she and her son could thrive.

That experience changed my life. As I mentored her through the Habitat process, I fell in love with their mission: that everyone deserves safe, decent, and affordable housing. When the Executive Director position at Habitat became available, I knew it was where I was meant to be. I was honored to be selected and now have the privilege of leading an organization that transforms lives through permanent housing solutions.

Today, I continue to support and celebrate that young woman—now a successful business owner and homeowner—who has become a lifelong friend. Stories like hers fuel my passion and reinforce my belief that housing is not just shelter, but the foundation for hope, stability, and opportunity.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

From a young age, I felt a strong desire to help others—especially those less fortunate. I was raised by two of the most generous people I’ve ever known, and their example instilled in me the importance of compassion, service, and giving back.

That call to serve became deeply personal when my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 42. For five years, he fought courageously—enduring nine major surgeries, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, and traveling to various states for aggressive treatments. Tragically, he passed away at just 47. I was 36 years old, suddenly a widow, raising our 12-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son.

Throughout that heartbreaking journey, our community surrounded us with love and support. From meals and financial help to emotional encouragement, I witnessed firsthand the goodness and generosity of people around us. In the midst of tragedy, I experienced grace—and I vowed to give back to my community in the same way it gave to me.

One of the first ways my children and I began to give back was by serving summer lunches to children in underprivileged neighborhoods. I wanted my kids to understand the importance of empathy and service, and to see that not everyone is as fortunate. It was during this time that I became aware of the critical need for affordable housing in our community.

Though my degree is in education, my path took a new direction. I had been out of the workforce for several years to care for my young children and later, my husband. As a newly single parent, I took a position with a local non-profit that provided food, housing, clothing, and education for those in need. There, I became deeply invested in housing work—providing temporary shelter and case management to those experiencing homelessness. I worked closely with individuals re-entering society after jail or rehab, ensuring they weren’t released back into homelessness.

Our community is incredibly fortunate to have strong partnerships among local organizations that support and advocate for vulnerable populations. Through this work, I became involved with Habitat for Humanity—and I am now honored to serve as Executive Director for the Madison and Clark County affiliates in Kentucky.

What began as a way to give back has grown into a life’s calling. I believe deeply in the vision that everyone deserves a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home. I’ve seen lives transformed when housing is secure—and I’ve also seen how the cycle of poverty is perpetuated without it.

Today, I am remarried to a wonderful man, and my children—now 27 and 29—carry this same spirit of service. My son is very involved in our community and my daughter and her husband are currently in the process of adopting, continuing our family’s commitment to giving back and helping others.

This journey has been filled with both sorrow and joy, but above all, with purpose. I am honored to walk alongside those striving for a better life and to be part of the solution to one of the most pressing issues of our time: housing.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

At Habitat for Humanity, we do more than build houses—we create opportunities for families to break the cycle of generational poverty and step into stability, dignity, and hope. Our model allows families in need to purchase homes through zero-interest mortgages, making monthly payments truly affordable. But while providing housing is the foundation of our work, it’s the relationships I build with our partner families that keep me deeply invested.

Each family that comes through our program is required to complete 250 hours of “sweat equity,” volunteering their time to help build their own homes and those of others. In addition, they participate in educational classes that prepare them for the responsibilities of homeownership. Through this process, I get to know each family personally—their stories, struggles, and dreams. I hold our partner families to a high standard, and in return, I see incredible transformation and growth.

One of my most recent families recently closed on their new home. They shared with me that they are the first couple on either side of their families to ever own a home. Moments like that remind me why this work matters so much. We’re not just building houses—we’re building futures, and helping families step into a reality they may have never believed was possible.

Housing is a basic human need, but it also serves as a launchpad for success in every other area of life. Safe, stable, and affordable homes give individuals and families the foundation they need to thrive. That’s what keeps me inspired every single day—to walk alongside these families as they build their homes, their confidence, and their futures.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

The work we do at Habitat for Humanity is incredibly meaningful—but it’s also heavy. Every day, we hear heartbreaking stories of hardship, trauma, and generational struggle. Our families have endured so much before they ever step through our doors, and it’s our privilege—and responsibility—to walk with them toward a brighter future. But carrying these stories can take an emotional toll.

That’s why I’m so grateful to have an extraordinary team by my side. I don’t just see them as coworkers—I consider them family. We spend an incredible amount of time together, and this work is far from a 9-to-5 job. We eat, sleep, and breathe Habitat for Humanity. It’s my goal as a leader to create an environment that is organized, energetic, and fun. I always remind my team: Be the kind of person you would want to work with.

While we work hard, we also make space to laugh, connect, and celebrate the good. When things get especially heavy, we’ll take spontaneous field trips for lunch, crank up the music for impromptu dance breaks, or challenge each other to be creative on the office whiteboard. It might feature the most inspiring quote of the day, a list of our favorite things, or a running collection of funny sayings that help us find joy even in tough moments. Volunteers are also a vital part of the Habitat model. We could not build the houses without the help of our dedicated volunteers. I always want our affiliate to be a place for our volunteers to come and visit. It is often that you will see people gathered in our offices drinking coffee and reliving the old Habitat days when President Jimmy Carter came to do builds in our community

Laughter is a vital part of our culture—it helps us process the weight of the work, support one another, and stay connected to the heart of why we do what we do. We believe that meaningful work and a positive workplace can—and should—go hand in hand. Together, we create a space where people want to come to work, and that energy carries over into the lives of the families we serve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.habitatmadisonclark.org
• Instagram: habitat_madisonclark
• Facebook: Habitat for Humanity of Madison and Clark Counties

Image Credits

Jena Armstrong