Housing Up is thrilled to announce the selection of Mercedes Lemp as the organization’s next President & CEO, following an extensive search led by Good Insight. Lemp begins her new role on September 8. She will assume the role at a time when the work of Housing Up, one of Washington, DC’s largest homeless services providers and affordable housing organizations, is most urgently needed.

Lemp joins Housing Up from My Sister’s Place, a DC-based nonprofit supporting survivors of domestic violence through housing, advocacy, and wraparound services. As Executive Director, she more than doubled the organization’s budget and staff. During her tenure, the organization expanded housing and launched innovative programs, including the first cash transfer program for survivors of domestic violence.  

Earlier this year, Housing Up announced the plans for its current President & CEO, Phil Hecht, to retire by the end of the year, following 10 years of leading the organization and more than 35 years of commitment to Housing Up. The Housing Up Board of Directors partnered with Good Insight, an executive search firm with an exclusive focus on mission-driven organizations, to conduct an extensive search for Phil’s successor. 

“Mercedes is the ideal leader for Housing Up, bringing a vision for partnerships and programs that will transform housing and supportive services across Washington, DC,” said Paula Singleton, Chair of Housing Up’s Search Committee. “As we extend gratitude for Phil Hecht’s decades of leadership and support in this transition, I am confident Housing Up is in good hands, well-equipped to build thriving communities and empower those we serve.”

Lemp’s career spans leadership roles across diverse sectors. Prior to her seven years of leadership at My Sister’s Place, she twice served as the Executive Director of Washington English Center. She was appointed Director of the Washington, DC Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs by Mayor Adrian Fenty, serving as a Cabinet member from 2007-2010. She holds an MBA from George Washington University and a BA in Business and Management Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park. 

“There is nothing more important for families and communities than safe, affordable housing,” said Lemp. “It is my honor to lead Housing Up, an organization with a stellar track record and unique value in the coalition of service providers advocating for and creating system-wide change in local housing and homelessness policies.” 

Lemp is a member of Leadership Greater Washington and has served on the board of the Adams Morgan BID, the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the DC Public Schools Joint Advisory Council, and the Mayor’s Adult Literacy Council. 

She advanced through a competitive search led in partnership with Good Insight, an award-winning, Washington, DC-based executive search firm with an exclusive focus on nonprofits, associations, and foundations. She begins her new role on September 8.