Patricia Hoskins used to say that she wanted to “live the good life.” Now, after becoming executive director of the Faulkner County Habitat for Humanity, she says, “I want to live a life that does good.”
She is also the first female to hold the position of executive director at the nonprofit chapter in Conway. Needless to say, Patricia has taken every advantage to live a fulfilling life here in Central Arkansas for the past six years, and in Atlanta for the 20 years prior to that. The wife and dedicated mother is also an executive broker for EXIT Realty and she dabbles in the entertainment industry.
Patricia’s friendly nature was inviting as we sat in her comfortable family room; it felt more like a conversation with a friend than an interview. After she poured and served two cups of steaming tea, Patricia began to tell her life story and how she came to learn the value of giving back.
As a native Arkansan, she has a natural connection with the state, but life took her away for a while. After first grade, Patricia and her family moved from Pine Bluff to a variety of other places. She grew up in a very small town in Missouri. Most recently, in Atlanta, she worked for three mayors, one of who is Shirley Franklin, the current mayor. Patricia also worked with Shirley during the 1996 Olympics.
“I loved Atlanta, it’s like a second home to me,” she said. But since her roots are here, she returned and has been engaging herself in a multitude of activities, boards, jobs, and commitments. “I’m one of those people who believe in taking a big bite out of life,” she said with a big smile. “I like a lot of things. I like reading, dancing, cooking, decorating, and signing. I also love to travel.”
Her ill father is what actually brought her back to Arkansas. “I had every intent to move back to Atlanta,” she said. But love intervened. A visit to a clothing store to find clothes for a musical group’s album cover Patricia was working on took her Little Rock. It was there that she met her husband. After dating a short time, they were married and decided to stay in her home state.
Before working at EXIT, she was executive broker at Coldwell Banker Advantage. When Coldwell sold the building to EXIT, she stayed and sort of “came with the building.”
Prior to Coldwell Banker, she worked at Pam McDowell properties. Because she has been a Realtor for the past six years and is now working for Habitat for Humanity, she struggles with the change in identity.
“Most people know me as a Realtor and I want people to know me now as executive director for Habitat, because that’s where my life is going,” Patricia said. Yet indirectly, it is the slow housing market and turn in the economy that lead her to Habitat for Humanity.
During the down time, she stepped back and reevaluated her financial life. At the same time, Jim Rhodes, the former executive director of Habitat, was leaving and Patricia heard about the open position. She admits she didn’t even know Faulkner County had a local Habitat chapter.
As the first female executive director, Patricia’s top priorities include notifying and including those people who would love to get involved, but just aren’t aware of the opportunities with Habitat.
Patricia said being the first female director makes her want to take on any and everything that comes her way. “Sometimes I have to remind myself, I’m one person and I can put it on the list, but I can’t do it all in one day,” she said.
Her weekly schedule is usually divided between her Realtor duties and Habitat. Yet, she is finding that Habitat takes more than the days and time allotted. “It just speaks to the magnitude of work that needs to be done and the search for volunteers,” Patricia described. She explained how she used to prioritize her work by assigning things to a hot, warm or cold file. “Now, I only have a hot file and it’s a whole drawer!” she explained.
Patricia relies on the help of one volunteer, who she calls an “answered prayer” and an active board to run the busy nonprofit. “We are a close knit group. I tell everyone that Habitat is clearly one instance of synergy that works,” said Patricia.
Habitat is close to completing its 19th house. Patricia stated that the Faulkner County chapter builds 1.5 houses every year. Comparatively, the Pulaski County Habitat chapter builds between eight and eleven houses a year. “We build at a slower pace, which means we help fewer people,” explained Patricia. Her goal for 2010 is to build four houses.
Patricia explained that Habitat is already on target for two houses, which beats the previous building rate. The current build is classified as an “Apostle” build, meaning 12 churches give of their finances, labor, and food to complete a house. For this build, seven churches were involved. Another theme build planned for next year is a women build.
The name of the build might sound inclusive, but Patricia explained that it simply means women are encouraged to come to the building site, pick up a hammer or saw, and learn the house building process. The women build is underwritten by LOWES® and supported by seed monies with the Pink Hats Club. A blitz build is also in the plans, which is a build done by college students in shorter time than normal. She also talked about a youth build to involve kids under 18, so that “they can start learning about the impact of giving back to a community.”
Due to the down economy, Patricia said, “I have to be creative in efforts to raise money. I’m dong a lot of small projects to carry us on.” One upcoming fundraiser happening Dec. 4-6 is called “Tap for Habitat.” During that event, local restaurants will give diners the option to pay $1 for a (usually free) glass of tap water. The $1 will go to Habitat. She is hoping to make Tap for Habitat an annual, revolving event. “If everybody in Faulkner County gave $1, we could build a couple houses,” she said. Currently it costs between $60,000 and $70,000 to build a house in Faulkner County. Additionally, Patricia said a land donation makes the process so much easier.
Another project in the works is called A Brush with Kindness. “Sherwin Williams of Conway is donating mis-tint paint to us. We either resell the paint or if someone knows of an elderly person or someone who is need of repairs, you can come to us and we will give the paint to give to someone in need,” explained Patricia. Brush with Kindness falls in line perfectly with Habitat’s mission of people helping people. “Our motto is a hand up, not a hand out,” said Patricia.
Keeping with that mission are plans to start a community garden in the middle of town. Land has been donated and eventually a garden of edible plants and possible butterfly garden will be open to everyone.
On an average day, she receives about 20 calls and around three walk-ins at the Habitat office on Van Ronkle. Habitat utilizes an application process, so everyone who comes in must first fill out an application. Once an application is completed, that person is entered into Habitat’s system. Then, every four to six weeks, there is an evaluation of the applications. People are contacted to see if they are still interested, and if so, a second application is administered.
The second application is much more detailed than the first. “We make sure we spend one-on-one time with each applicant. We also tell them about the sweat equity requirement. So before we even start building on their house, they will spend time building on someone else’s house,” she said. Married couples are required to put in 400 hours; single parents are required to put in 300 sweat equity hours. Patricia explained the importance of this requirement, “We aren’t just here to help one person, we are here to help the whole community.”
When it comes time to build the house for the applicant, Patricia said besides the homeowner, she is the luckiest person at that time. “I get to see the process from beginning to end. It is the best feeling to hand the keys over to the person.”
Volunteers are always needed and welcomed. Patricia said to call or stop by her office at 1017 Van Ronkle and talk with her in person. “Because the sky is the limit, we can pretty much pattern a way for every person in the community to get involved,” she explained. “We need volunteers every single day. Whether it is the retiree who just wants to sit and answer the phone, or a builder who wants to donate some time or school children who want to do a fundraiser. We have a way for everyone in Faulkner County to have ownership of Habitat.”
Patricia said she feels like America is the best place to live and solely believes that our country was built on helping our neighbors. “I remember that my mother always made a little something extra in case a guest stopped by or just so she could share with the neighbor. We kind of got away from that. I believe what we are seeing is us getting away from that. It’s our greed versus our need. Innately, I believe that Americans want to give and there’s no better feeling than to lay your head on your pillow knowing that you have helped someone in some small way.”
Patricia concluded, “There are so many rewards to helping someone. This mission has given me a new view on life.”