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Open the Door: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Habitat for Humanity International
Open the Door is a podcast by Habitat for Humanity International exploring the stories, people, and ideas shaping the future of housing in Asia-Pacific and beyond. A home is where life begins, where families grow and futures are built. It's the foundation for health, education, safety, and economic opportunity. Yet for more than billions worldwide, it remains out of reach. Each episode, we go beyond the structure to hear from voices across Asia and beyond confronting the housing crisis head-on. We uncover what it really takes to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has a safe and stable place to call home.
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- 2 weeks ago54 min
Designing for Everyone: What Inclusive Housing Really Means
S01 E05 Designing for Everyone: What Inclusive Housing Really Means What does it take to design a home that truly meets people's needs? In this episode, host Penny Kaleta, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Australia, speaks with Joshua Bolchover, architect and co-founder of Rural Urban Framework/District Development Unit and professor at the University of Hong Kong, about what inclusive housing design looks like in practice. From nomadic communities in Mongolia and climate-resilient, community-centered housing in the Philippines, to culturally aligned design for First Nations communities in Australia and post-earthquake rebuilding in Nepal, they explore how culture, climate, and community should shape the homes we build. They also discuss how thoughtful design can foster connection and belonging, and why finance, rather than technology, remains one of the biggest barriers to delivering inclusive housing at scale. Chapters 00:00 What Inclusive Design Really Means 02:00 Meet Joshua Bolchover 05:00 Rapid Urbanisation, Culture and the Mongolia Story 11:00 Community-Led Design: Building Homes That Build Community 23:00 Climate Change as a Design Non-Negotiable 31:00 Meanwhile Use and Transitional Housing 37:00 The Finance Gap: Innovation Blocked by Interest Rates 42:00 Affordability, Pilots, and What It Takes to Scale 49:00 Joshua’s Call to Action 51:00 Lightning Round: Open the Door Sources Abong’o, B., et al. (2026). Housing modifications for heat adaptation, thermal comfort and malaria vector control in rural African settlements. In Nature Medicine. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-04104-9 Bureau of Meteorology of the Australian Government (2026). Average annual and monthly heating and cooling degree days. https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/maps/averages/degree-days/ Dedicatoria, M. (2021). UP team wins Habitat for Humanity Challenge for solution on retrofitting foundations of low-income homes. https://philstarproperty.com/news/2021/10/10/23000/up-team-wins-habitat-for-humanity-challenge-for-solution-on-retrofitting-foundations-of-low-income-homes/ District Development Unit. Core House. https://ddu.earth/core-house-1 District Development Unit. Ger Plug-in. https://ddu.earth/ger-plug-in-1 District Development Unit. Hilti Village. https://ddu.earth/hilti-village-1 Habitat for Humanity Australia (2025). Meanwhile Use. https://habitat.org.au/meanwhile-use-housing-makes-change/ Habitat for Humanity (2026). World Malaria Day 2026 | Rethinking homes to stop malaria. https://www.habitat.org/emea/stories/world-malaria-day-2026-rethinking-homes-stop-malaria About the Moderator and Speaker Joshua Bolchover is an architect and professor at the University of Hong Kong, whose work exploresing how architecture can respond to urban change, climate challenges and community needs. He co-founded Rural Urban Framework, an award-winning not-for-profit design and research practice, and established District Development Unit in 2020 to scale design initiatives that deliver tangible impact. Its housing prototype for Mongolia, The Ger Plug-In 3.0, received the Holcim Silver Medal for Sustainable Construction Asia Pacific in 2023. Joshua has authored three books, including Becoming Urban: The Mongolian City of Nomads (2023) and Border Ecologies: Hong Kong’s Mainland Frontier (2017). His work is held by MoMA, the CCA and M+, and has been exhibited internationally at the Venice Biennale, Milan Triennale, Lisbon Architecture Triennale, Design Museum London and Chicago Biennial. Penny Kaleta is the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Australia and a leading voice on housing solutions, partnerships and social impact. Drawing on more than 30 years of leadership experience across the commercial and not-for-profit sectors, Penny works at the intersection of housing solutions, affordability, climate resilience and community development. She is recognized for her ability to bring together government, corporate and community partners to develop innovative solutions that deliver lasting social and economic impact. Penny believes that housing is more than shelter—it is the foundation for health, safety, opportunity and resilience, and a critical driver of stronger communities. Penny’s work is grounded in a simple belief: everyone deserves a safe place to sleep About Habitat for Humanity AP - habitat.org/ap - linkedin.com/company/habitat-ap/ - instagram.com/habitat.ap/ - facebook.com/HabitatAP
- Sep 29, 202655 min
Climate Resilient Housing: Co-Designing with Community and Tackling the Funding Gap
Climate Resilient Housing: Co-Designing with Community and Tackling the Funding Gap In this episode of Habitat for Humanity International’s “Open the Door,” moderator Aaron Opdyke, an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney and Disaster Risk Management Specialist with the GFDRR/World Bank, is joined by Sanjeev Hada, Associate Director, Program Operations Asia-Pacific at Habitat for Humanity, and Ngoc Anh Chu Thi, “Kiu,” an architect with Think Playgrounds and a 2025 Habitat Youth Solutions winner. Together, they explore what it takes to make housing more resilient to the impacts of climate change across Asia and the Pacific. They discuss why housing remains underfunded despite its wider social and economic benefits, what “climate-resilient housing” looks like in practice, and why community participation and localized design matter. Kiu shares her experience co-designing floating homes with a vulnerable community along Hanoi’s Red River, using local materials, natural cooling techniques, and repair training. Sanjeev reflects on the challenges posed by short donor funding cycles challenges, the need for stronger evidence of impact, and the range of approaches available to communities, from retrofitting existing homes to and relocation where necessary. Chapters 00:00 Podcast Introduction 02:14 Meet The Guests 07:00 Floating Housing Concept 07:44 Why Housing Gets Underfunded 11:17 Vietnam Climate Stakes 13:14 Defining Climate Resilience 16:25 Red River Reality Check 22:15 Rapid Response Without Funding 25:23 Donor Cycles And Evidence 29:27 Community Participation Tools 34:27 Co-Designing with Community 38:44 What does Resilient Relocation look like? 42:17 Asia Pacific Solutions 46:13 What Needs To Change 50:58 Lightning Round 54:08 Final Takeaways And Call To Action Sources/References Habitat for Humanity, 2026. Youth Assembly Event Report. https://www.habitat.org/sites/default/files/documents/2025_Habitat_Youth_Assembly_Event_Report.pdf Habitat for Humanity, 2025. “People-centered approach in disaster response.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKZBRXxOU4g&list=PLZw2r9T-PRIL044ubh0H6VexfrGIcN0Xa&index=4 United Nations Environment Programme and Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, 2026. “Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2025-2026.” https://www.unep.org/resources/report/global-status-report-buildings-and-construction-2025-2026 Vietnam Express International, 2025. “Vietnam among Asian countries most vulnerable to climate change.” https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/environment/vietnam-among-asian-countries-most-vulnerable-to-climate-change-4871590.html Viet, A., 2024. “Climate Change Could Slash Vietnam's GDP by 14.5%, IFC Warns” in Vietnam Today. https://en.vneconomy.vn/climate-change-could-slash-vietnams-gdp-by-14-5-ifc-warns.htm About the Moderator and Speakers Aaron Opdyke is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Humanitarian Engineering at the University of Sydney. He holds a role at the World Bank working on disaster risk management. His work combines data analytics with community-centered approaches to disaster and climate resilience. He has advised governments on housing policy, led disaster risk assessments from local to national scales, and developed tools that help decision-makers act under uncertainty. Chu Thi Ngoc Anh, “Kiu", serves as the Head of Innovation and Design Team at Think Playgrounds. Leveraging her background in ecological architecture and urban design, she specializes in co-design approaches to create climate-resilient housing, biodiversity-friendly public spaces, and community-driven urban innovations. Sanjeev Hada is Associate Director of the Housing Support Service Unit, Programs Department, at Habitat for Humanity International's Asia-Pacific regional office in the Philippines. With over 15 years experience across the region, he has led disaster response, risk reduction, and preparedness work through the Red Cross Movement and other humanitarian agencies. He brings deep expertise in program development, coordination, and management, with a strong focus on shelter, housing, and infrastructure - spanning program leadership, partnerships, and delivering resilient, sustainable solutions for community preparedness and recovery. About Habitat for Humanity AP - habitat.org/ap - linkedin.com/company/habitat-ap/ - instagram.com/habitat.ap/ - facebook.com/HabitatAP
- Aug 25, 202644 min
Housing and Gender Equity: Shifting Roles and Building Inclusion in Asia-Pacific
S01E03 Housing and Gender Equity: Shifting Roles and Building Inclusion in Asia-Pacific More than 1.6 billion people across Asia-Pacific live in inadequate housing, with women facing added barriers like insecure land tenure, limited access to finance, and exclusion from housing decisions. In this episode of Open the Door by Habitat for Humanity International, Elizabeth "Liz" Satow, Habitat's Area Vice President for Asia-Pacific, speaks with Anabel Ali, Board Chair of Habitat for Humanity Fiji, and Anand Bolimera, National Director of Habitat for Humanity India, on how housing systems shape gender outcomes and how to make them more inclusive. They unpack gender equality vs. gender equity, citing examples like Project Nirmanshree, Habitat India's Housing Support Services, Habitat Fiji's She Fixes It initiative, the Daulomani Safe Home, and India's Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana program, showing how women-centered housing strengthens safety, health, livelihoods, education and decision-making. Chapters 00:00 – Cold open 00:47 – Welcome & introduction 01:56 – Meet the guests 02:35 – Guest stories: growing up with housing insecurity 07:45 – How gender shapes the housing experience 11:50 – Defining gender equality vs. gender equity 19:35 – Gender norms and housing 26:00 – Designing housing around women's needs 30:05 – The data: housing, health & gender-based violence 34:35 – Reasons for hope 39:55 – Closing reflections & lightning round 42:55 – Outro & call to action Our moderator and speakers: Liz Satow is Habitat for Humanity's Area Vice President for Asia-Pacific, with 20+ years of humanitarian and development leadership across India, Haiti, Nepal, Jordan, and the Philippines. She holds an MA in international development and a BA in political science, and is a certified life and executive coach. Anand Bolimera is National Director of Habitat for Humanity India, with nearly three decades in humanitarian response, strategic planning, and development. He previously founded Change Alliance and led a UK FCDO Poorest Areas Civil Society Program in India. At Habitat India, he leads efforts to expand affordable housing and strengthen community resilience. Anabel Ali is Board Chair of Habitat for Humanity Fiji and a finance executive with 15+ years in financial management, governance, and strategic leadership. She is Group Financial Controller of Fiji Fish Marketing Group and has served on the boards of Fiji's Housing Authority and Public Rental Board. Sources/References: Biutu, I. and Naivalurua, N., 2023. "64% of women and girls in Fiji experience physical and sexual violence by their husband or intimate partner – Tabuya" in Fiji Village. https://www.fijivillage.com/news/64-of-women-and-girls-in-Fiji-experience-physical-and-sexual-violence-by-their-husband-or-intimate-partner---Tabuya-x48r5f/ Fiji Global News, 2026. "Fiji Unveils 2025–2030 Housing Policy to Expand Affordable Homes, Secure Tenure and Boost Green Development." https://fijiglobalnews.com/fiji-unveils-2025-2030-housing-policy-to-expand-affordable-homes-secure-tenure-and-boost-green-development/ Fiji Global News, 2024. "Fiji's Housing Dilemma: The Risks of Informal Settlements." https://fijiglobalnews.com/fijis-housing-dilemma-the-risks-of-informal-settlements-2/ Government of India. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana https://pmaymis.gov.in/ Habitat for Humanity Fiji. "Daulomani, the language of love." https://habitatfiji.org.fj/daulomani-the-language-of-love/ Habitat for Humanity Fiji. "Rebuilding with purpose: How plumbing skills empowered Siteri." https://habitatfiji.org.fj/rebuilding-with-purpose-how-plumbing-skills-empowered-siteri/ Habitat for Humanity Fiji. "She Fixes I
- Jul 27, 202646 min
Policy and Partnerships: Scaling Housing Solutions Across Asia-Pacific
S01E02 Policy and Partnerships: Scaling Housing Solutions Across Asia-Pacific In disaster-prone, rapidly urbanizing Asia-Pacific, building alone cannot fix a broken housing system. In this episode, moderator Eliza Sthapit, national director of Habitat for Humanity Nepal, speaks with Handoko Ngadiman, national director of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, and Phal Vandy, national director of Habitat for Humanity Cambodia, about the role of evidence-based policy and cross-sector partnerships in scaling housing solutions. Eliza sets the regional context and explains why housing is the foundation for health, education, safety, opportunity, and dignity. Vandy describes Cambodia's trust-based work with government, UN-Habitat, other NGOs, and the private sector to strengthen social and affordable housing policy, contributing to efforts to develop a housing law, financial inclusion strategy, and housing fund. Handoko examines barriers such as insecure land tenure and limited access to formal banking and government subsidies. He also shares the experience of Tanjung Kait, where 110 fishing families secured land titles, infrastructure, and decent homes through community facilitation, savings groups, and government support. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:46 Meet the guests & the Asia-Pacific reality 03:59 Vandy's story 05:25 Handoko's story 07:52 What "policy and partnership" really means 11:33 Cambodia: turning trust into policy 13:49 What surprises people about this work 18:50 Case study: Cambodia's social housing pilot 21:36 Case study: Tanjung Kait fishing village 26:34 Structural challenges across Asia-Pacific 28:38 Learning across borders 30:39 One policy, multiplied: Indonesia's village fund 35:16 Why keep investing in slow policy work 39:40 Looking forward 45:41 Lightning round 47:00 Closing Sources/References: - World Population Review, 2026. "Natural Disaster Risk by Country 2026," https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/natural-disaster-risk-by-country - Grahadyarini, B.M.L., (2024, October 10). Kompas. “3 Million Homes Program Ready to Invite Foreign Investors,” https://www.kompas.id/artikel/en-program-3-juta-rumah-siap-undang-investor-asing - Habitat for Humanity Cambodia, 2023. “Supporting the implementation of the Cambodia government’s housing policy,” https://www.habitat.org/sites/default/files/documents/Cambodia%20brief%20on%20policy%20ask_FINAL_20231024_2.pdf - Habitat for Humanity International, 2026. "Finally, we own our land," https://www.habitat.org/ap/stories/finally-we-own-our-land - The World Bank, 2026. “Cambodia Economic Update June 2026: Navigating Shocks,” https://reliefweb.int/report/cambodia/cambodia-economic-update-june-2026-navigating-shocks About the speakers: Eliza Sthapit is national director of Habitat for Humanity Nepal and has over 20 years of development experience across Asia. She began as a youth volunteer in community development and environmental conservation, later working with WWF, DANIDA, ICCO Cooperation, and Cordaid International in business development, organizational strategy, and human resources. She holds a Master's degree in Sustainable Resource Management from the Technical University of Munich and a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from St-Xavier's College, Kathmandu. https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliza-sthapit-4051aa5/ Handoko Ngadiman, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, holds Master's degrees from the University of Wales, Cardiff, and the Asian Institute of Management, Philippines. He has over 25 years of executive leadership across for-profit and non-profit sectors in Indonesia and Asia, including leading large national non-profits through restructuring, expansion, and leadership development. He is passionate about empowering families, mentoring young leaders, and guiding non-profits through strategic planning. https://www.linkedin.com/in/handoko-ngadiman-9497801b1/ Phal Vandy, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Cambodia, has over 20 years of experience in development and humanitarian leadership, strategy, governance, and inclusive finance. He completed Humanitarian Leadership training at Deakin University, Australia (2015), holds a Master's degree in Development Studies from the University of Cambodia (2008), and a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from the National University of Management, Cambodia. He has worked with various global organizations including Save the Children, Cambodia Microfinance Association, World Vision, Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development, and the International Labor Organization on multi-sectoral governance, inclusive finance, and community development programs, and has overseen multi-million-dollar projects through high-level partnerships. https://www.linkedin.com/in/phal-vandy-119b72254/ For more info: habitat.org/ap linkedin.com/company/habitat-ap/ instagram.com/habitat.ap/ facebook.com/HabitatAP
- Jun 30, 202651 min
Housing and Health: Why Home Is the Foundation of Wellbeing
S01E01 - Housing and Health: Why Home Is the Foundation of Wellbeing In this episode of Open the Door, moderator Jo Hayes, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong, speaks with Alan Thorp, Group CEO of Habitat for Humanity New Zealand, and Scott Merrill, Senior Director for Regional Operations at Habitat for Humanity's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, about how housing conditions directly shape health and why effective solutions require both practical home upgrades and broader systems change. The conversation explores overcrowding, ventilation, damp, pests, heat and other health risks; examples from Hong Kong, New Zealand and Kenya; and what it takes to connect housing improvements with health budgets, market systems and policy change. --- Chapters 00:00 Podcast Introduction 00:52 Housing Shapes Health 03:04 The Stakes and Statistics 05:20 New Zealand Healthy Homes 09:24 A Home Transformed 10:55 What Habitat’s Terwilliger Center Does 15:14 Evidence From New Zealand 19:43 Kenya Malaria Retrofits 24:26 Four Market Gaps 28:01 Regional Challenges 34:59 WASH and Resilience in the Pacific 38:16 Scaling Solutions Together 42:34 Corporate Financing Models 43:58 Calls to Action 48:12 Lightning Round 50:29 Closing summary --- Sources/References: - Abong’o, B., Kwaro, D., Bange, T. et al, 2026. "Housing modifications for heat adaptation, thermal comfort and malaria vector control in rural African settlements." https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-04104-9 - AMI Insurance and Habitat for Humanity New Zealand, 2022. "Aotearoa Housing Survey," https://www.habitat.org.nz/nationwide-sponsor - Cure Kids, 2026. "State of Child Health in Aotearoa NZ," https://www.curekids.org.nz/our-research/state-of-child-health - Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong. "Ageing in Place." https://aip.habitat.org.hk/ - Habitat for Humanity International, 2025. "Informal Settlement Improvements and Women’s Health." https://www.habitat.org/home-equals/womens-health - Habitat for Humanity New Zealand, 2025. "Science, Shelter, Health: Cool roof research tackles hot topics in Niue." https://www.habitat.org.nz/impact-stories/science-shelter-health-cool-roof-research-tackles-hot-topics-in-niue - Hong Kong SAR Commission on Poverty, 2020. "Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2020," https://www.commissiononpoverty.gov.hk/eng/pdf/Hong_Kong_Poverty_Situation_Report_2020.pdf - Hong Kong SAR, 2026. "Basic Housing Units Ordinance," https://www.bhu.gov.hk/eng/regulatory-regime/ordinance/ - Stats NZ. "Housing in Aotearoa New Zealand: 2025," https://www.stats.govt.nz/reports/housing-in-aotearoa-new-zealand-2025/ - UN-Habitat, 2024. "Adequate housing for all." https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2025/05/annual_report_2025_final.pdf --- For more information about the speakers: Jo Hayes is Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong, advancing access to safe, healthy, and affordable housing. Since 2004, Habitat Hong Kong has served the local community and raised awareness of housing as a critical foundation for improving lives and tackling intergenerational poverty across the region. With nearly 30 years of international experience across the public, private and nonprofit sectors, including roles with the British Council, BBC Worldwide and The Women’s Foundation, Jo brings deep expertise in strategy, governance, and stakeholder engagement. A Hong Kong Jockey Club Chicago Booth MBA Scholar, she applies rigorous, analytical thinking, financial discipline, and evidence-based leadership to drive organizational strategy and growth, and has been based in Hong Kong since 2013. https://www.linkedin.com/in/johayeshabitat/ Alan Thorp is the Group CEO of Habitat for Humanity New Zealand. Joining Habitat in 2007, he has fulfilled various roles, beginning as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Deputy CEO, and Group CEO/National Director. Alan has over 25 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant in public practice, private commercial entities and the NGO sector. Alan has a Masters Degree in Theology from Regent College in Vancouver. He is passionate about leading Habitat’s mission and its people as a practical outworking of his faith and theology. He is excited about leading the expansion of Habitat’s mission delivery both in New Zealand and the Pacific. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-thorp-1178a82/ Scott Merrill is Senior Director of Regional Operations for Habitat for Humanity International's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, where he leads regional teams from across the globe to advance market-based approaches to affordable housing. He brings deep experience in market systems development, systems thinking, human-centered design, and lean startup approaches across sectors including housing, resilience, climate, health, agriculture, and food security across 22 countries. https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-merrill-39185610/ For more information on Habitat for Humanity Asia-Pacifi
- Jun 23, 20261 min
Open the Door Trailer - Audio
Open the Door, a podcast by Habitat for Humanity International about housing, is coming soon! In upcoming episodes, we'll explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping the future of housing in the Asia Pacific region. Open the door with us as we hear from voices across Asia and beyond confronting the housing crisis head-on. Follow and subscribe to never miss an episode.
- Jun 23, 20261 min
Open the Door Trailer
Open the Door, a podcast by Habitat for Humanity International about housing, is coming soon! In upcoming episodes, we'll explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping the future of housing. Open the door with us as we hear from voices across Asia and beyond confronting the housing crisis head-on. Follow and subscribe to never miss an episode.
About Open the Door
Open the Door is a podcast by Habitat for Humanity International exploring the stories, people, and ideas shaping the future of housing in Asia-Pacific and beyond. A home is where life begins, where families grow and futures are built. It's the foundation for health, education, safety, and economic opportunity. Yet for more than billions worldwide, it remains out of reach. Each episode, we go beyond the structure to hear from voices across Asia and beyond confronting the housing crisis head-on. We uncover what it really takes to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has a safe and stable place to call home.
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