BUILDING HOPE + SUPPORT: MATTHEW FLANIGAN HAMMERS HOME CHANGE IN GREATER ROC
- emmaalexander2
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
Leading Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity, Matthew Flanigan helps create homeownership and strengthen community across three counties.
In Rochester’s Beechwood neighborhood, inside a house still under construction, transformation is underway. To Matthew Flanigan, president and CEO of Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity, this home is more than shelter—it represents the tenacity, strength and perseverance of the new homeowner and our community.
From the outside, it may look like just another house going up. But for the family preparing to move in, including a single mother balancing college, work and parenting, it’s the beginning of a new chapter. Handwritten messages of encouragement from volunteers are sealed behind the drywall, echoing a truth Matthew believes deeply: homes should be infused with love at the very foundation.
“We don’t give away houses. We build homes, community and support. What does that mean? Hope.”
Habitat's model isn't about charity, it's about partnership. Families contribute “sweat equity” by helping build their homes and those of their future neighbors. They attend homeowner education classes, learn about credit repair and insurance, and become part of a support network before even moving in.
This holistic approach fosters lasting relationships, uplifts entire communities and sets up families for long-term success. It also lays the groundwork for generational change. And, Matthew emphasizes, the work doesn’t stop with new construction. Habitat’s home repair program helps existing homeowners—veterans, seniors and families with limited means—stay safe and stable in the homes they already own.
“The Greater Rochester community is made up of a mosaic of communities, of people who work hard, lift each other up and find different ways to thrive.”
Since merging three county affiliates into Greater Rochester Habitat, Matthew and his team have expanded their reach exponentially. From building just a handful of homes per year, they are now on track to deliver 33 homes annually across Monroe, Ontario and Wayne counties. Innovation is central to that growth, including the adoption of modular home construction, funded in part by American Rescue Plan Act grants.
Matthew took the helm at Habitat in 2013 and has provided more than a decade of purpose-driven leadership, anchored by a team that isn’t afraid to take risks and keep moving forward. That spirit of collaboration is infectious. Whether with corporate partners, administrative colleagues or volunteers braving the elements, Matthew says the work is defined by a simple, powerful word: we.
“When we look at something we've accomplished and I hear ‘we,’ then I know
we're in our sweet spot.”
As Greater Rochester Habitat continues to grow in scale, scope and impact, Matthew remains focused on one thing: the humanity behind the housing. “It’s not about getting good at what we’re doing today. We’re only going to be this size for a moment. It’s about asking, ‘Where do we grow next and who are we lifting as we go?’”
The totality of the uplift is so powerful and it goes far beyond imagination. For that, Matthew likes to take every opportunity to raise the roof and thank all who’ve said “yes” to this vital work.