Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m originally from the DMV and moved back in 2018 after being away for college and a couple of years working post-grad in NYC! I joined the Associate Board in September 2023.

I’m a strategic communications professional with a focus on housing and historic preservation. I currently work as the Communications & Operations Manager for a local historic preservation nonprofit, The L’Enfant Trust, and previously worked for several years at a communications agency in DC.

 

What inspired you to join Housing Up’s Associate Board?

The L’Enfant Trust rehabilitates deteriorated, historic properties in DC’s Ward 8 into affordable housing. This work is really meaningful to me, so I wanted to get more involved with the larger affordable housing network in DC. I thought it would be a great leadership development opportunity within the field, as well as a way to give back to under-resourced communities in DC.

What’s your favorite Housing Up memory? What made it so special?

Last year, we organized a Black History Month-themed trivia night at Partner Arms 1 (PA 1) which was a huge success with residents. We tailored many of the questions to focus on DC-specific Black history and culture, and it was powerful to see the sense of pride and connection many of the residents felt. Another favorite moment was witnessing one of Housing Up’s long-term residents at PA 1 transition from permanent supportive housing into their own, new apartment in the DMV region.

What do you wish more people knew about affordable housing and homelessness?

Quality housing combined with supportive services has proven to be effective in combating homelessness and enabling low-income families to live independently. I’ve been so impressed by the breadth of services and resources Housing Up offers its residents from tutoring, one-on-one mentoring for education and career development, college application assistance, free summer camp for resident students, and more.

In terms of creating more affordable housing, I believe there’s an opportunity to develop more affordable housing units through the adaptive reuse of our older, existing building stock, such as the conversion of former churches, office buildings, or schools that are no longer in use. Developing affordable housing often involves multiple, complex layers of financing, and utilizing the Historic Tax Credit (HTC) can be a huge incentive for developers. Preserving existing affordable housing to ensure units/buildings remain affordable is also very important.