What happens when a nonprofit doesn’t just talk about affordable housing but actually builds homes while training the next generation of construction workers?

In this episode of Vibe Your Vibe, Kirk sits down with Steve Speer, a Construction Project Manager with East Missouri Action Agency.

We’re recording inside a home Steve is building mid-construction, which makes this conversation extra real: trades, timelines, funding, and what it takes to keep a program running in the real world.

Steve breaks down what East Missouri Action Agency does across eight counties in Southeast Missouri, including support programs like Section 8 housing assistance, Head Start, utility and energy assistance, weatherization, senior services, and more, plus how their workforce program, New Foundations, trains workers while building affordable homes.

We also get into the practical side of building: construction loans, interest rates, inspections, hiring skilled vs. unskilled labor, benefits in construction work, and why crawlspace vs. slab plumbing can change everything.

If you care about community building, workforce development, trades, or housing, this one is worth your time.

#AffordableHousing #WorkforceDevelopment #Construction #Trades #Missouri #CommunityDevelopment #Nonprofit #VibeYourVibe