Open the Door cover art

Open the Door

Open the Door

By: Habitat for Humanity International
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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.

Open the Door is produced by Habitat for Humanity International.

Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Housing and Health: Why Home Is the Foundation of Wellbeing

    Housing and Health: Why Home Is the Foundation of Wellbeing
    Jun 30 2026
    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 ...
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    51 mins
  • Open the Door Trailer - Audio

    Open the Door Trailer - Audio
    Jun 23 2026

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    1 min
  • Open the Door Trailer

    Open the Door Trailer
    Jun 23 2026

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    1 min
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