Exeter Man to Lead Habitat for Humanity Chapter

The following is a news release from Southeast New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity:

Southeast New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity, a Portsmouth-based nonprofit that has been building affordable houses for qualified, hard-working families for 19 years, has named Exeter resident Jonathan Miller as its executive director.

“Jonathan’s leadership, communication, and management skills, along with his rich background in working with nonprofits and foundations throughout the United States, will help us immensely as we enter an important phase in our work of helping working families and increasing affordable housing opportunities on the Seacoast,” Habitat Board President Tom Boisvert said.

For Miller, his new post is an opportunity to work full-time for a cause that has long been dear to him.

“I share Southeast New Hampshire Habitat’s vision and mission of creating more opportunities for local families to obtain affordable housing, and to help other longtime area homeowners be able to maintain what for them is affordable housing,” Miller said.

“I also am impressed with the leadership, expertise, and forward thinking of Habitat’s Board and creative staff, and am excited to be among the hundreds of volunteers, faith-based organizations,
and individuals and business supporters who are the real creators and doers behind increasing affordable housing opportunities.”

Miller joins SENH Habitat as it is aggressively increasing and strengthening its building program, reaching out to more communities, neighbors, and potential partners throughout Rockingham and Strafford counties, and nurturing connections with individuals, faith-based communities, local businesses, foundations, and other nonprofits.

“As our building and engagement efforts expand, we’re continually reaching out to find families who are both in need and capable and motivated to become a Habitat partner family,” he said.

Complementing SENH Habitat’s mission are its three-year-old ReStore, currently located in Dover but soon to double its size and home-remodeling offerings at its new site in Newington.

Many of the kitchen cabinets, building supplies, and appliances sold in the ReStore come from the projects undertaken by Habitat’s professional DeConstruction team, which contracts with businesses and area homeowners involved in renovations.

Through their efforts, along with the thousands of donations by homeowners and businesses made to the ReStore, more than 1.2 million pounds of reusable items have been kept out of landfills.

Miller grew up in South Hampton, attended Winnacunnet High School, and graduated from the University of New Hampshire. His professional background includes nearly two decades in community journalism, including as the founding editor of The Portsmouth Press, along with experience in communications, grant proposal analysis, and strategic planning assignments with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan.

In addition, Miller brings hands-on knowledge and experience as a builder on the Seacoast for nearly a decade.