Staff

Renee M. Willis is the President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a membership organization dedicated to achieving racially and socially equitable public policy that ensures people with the lowest incomes have quality homes that are accessible and affordable in communities of their choice. She also leads NLIHC’s intensified engagement of renters with low incomes and people with lived experience with homelessness and housing instability. Renee previously served as NLIHC's Senior Vice President for Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. In this role, Renee worked to ensure that NLIHC’s commitment to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion is woven through its culture, policies, programs, and practices. From 2015 to 2021, Renee served as NLIHC’s Vice President for Field and Communications. In 2020, she served as a fellow with the Shriver Center’s Racial Justice Institute and joined a network of advocates working on race equity issues across the country.

Renee has over 30 years of experience in affordable housing, including establishing and leading successful community and region-wide initiatives. She has extensive experience in strategic planning, financial management, marketing, organizational development, staff management, and program operations. Renee previously served as housing services chief with Arlington County, Virginia; as administrator of the Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs for Montgomery County, Maryland; and as advocate and manager for the Public Justice Center’s Tenant Advocacy Project. Renee earned dual BA degrees in English and Spanish from the University of Maryland. She also holds a Certificate in Public Management from George Washington University.

Sarah previously served as a research associate with Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the nation’s largest funder of civil legal services for low-income individuals. As part of the team behind LSC’s congressionally funded Eviction Study, Sarah led the development of the Eviction Laws Database in partnership with the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University.

She was also a founding member of the Civil Court Data Initiative, which collects and translates civil court data into actionable insights for civil legal aid providers, justice advocates, and policymakers. Prior to joining LSC, Sarah worked in healthcare delivery, program monitoring and evaluation, and advocacy efforts on behalf of refugee communities and other vulnerable populations with organizations like the Syrian American Medical Society, Unite For Sight, and Universities Allied for Essential Medicines. She received a Master of Public Health degree in 2017 from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, where she specialized in epidemiology and global health. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin.

Andrew Aurand is senior vice president for research at NLIHC. He leads NLIHC’s research team in documenting the housing needs of low-income renters in annual publications like The Gap and Out of Reach, conducts additional research that informs housing policy related to extremely low-income renters, and co-manages the National Housing Preservation Database.

Prior to joining NLIHC, Andrew was a faculty member in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Florida State University, where he taught housing policy and research methods and completed research on the impact of comprehensive planning on the supply of affordable housing. He holds a master's degree in social work and a PhD in public policy from the University of Pittsburgh.

Sidney Betancourt is manager of inclusive community engagement on the NLIHC racial equity team. They are responsible for building and maintaining a network of individuals with lived experience of housing instability and homelessness and engaging them in federal housing advocacy efforts. Additionally, Sidney works to increase NLIHC’s awareness of and responsiveness to pressing issues in frontline communities. They also help manage NLIHC’s Tenant Talk publication and “Tenant Talk Live” webinar.

Before joining NLIHC, Sidney was the 2020-2021 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) housing graduate fellow. During their time as a fellow, Sidney worked with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) on legislative research aimed at preparing the agency for a governance restructure. They spent the last half of their fellowship with the House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee for Housing, Community Development and Insurance. As a committee fellow, Sidney supported staff in drafting important legislation related to public housing, infrastructure, and homelessness. Sidney is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where they earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work.

Kayla Blackwell serves on the policy team as a Senior Housing Policy Analyst. Before joining NLIHC, she worked in the office of Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), where she covered housing and homelessness. Prior to working for Senator Luján, Kayla was a field representative in the office of former Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM), where she advocated for the needs of rural communities and Tribal governments at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kayla’s legislative career started in the Texas Capitol as a health policy fellow in Representative Garnet Coleman’s office.

Kayla holds a master’s degree in social work with a specialization in political social work from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from New Mexico State University.

Victoria (Tori) Bourret is NLIHC's Manager of State and Local Innovation Outreach. In her previous role, as ERASE senior project coordinator, Tori worked with NLIHC's ERASE team to advance the Coalition’s mission and ensure that the emergency rental assistance appropriated by Congress reached the lowest-income and most marginalized renters. Before joining the ERASE team, Tori was a housing advocacy organizer, mobilizing and activating the field around the Coalition's policy priorities, supervising interns, and managing the state partner network, among other activities.

Prior to joining NLIHC, Tori served as a communications and project manager at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, a state partner of NLIHC. She also served two terms in AmeriCorps, one with AmeriCorps NCCC in Denver, Colorado, and one with Public Allies in Delaware. Tori earned her BA in women studies and psychology from the University of Delaware and her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania.

Jen Butler is the Coalition’s Senior Vice President of External Affairs. Jen works with the NLIHC chief executive officer to lead all of the organization's departments and activities that are externally facing, including: communications, media relations, brand, public relations, fund development, and events.

Jen's experience in media, marketing and communications has included work in entertainment and the non-profit sector. In her previous roles, Jen has worked extensively in branding, programming, and marketing strategy for a diverse portfolio of local and national brands. Jen is a graduate of Georgia State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism with a concentration in public and political communications.

Alayna Calabro is a senior policy analyst on NLIHC’s policy team. In this role, she identifies, analyzes, and advocates for federal policies and regulatory activities that advance the Coalition’s mission.

Previously, Alayna worked for NLIHC as a field intern while completing her graduate studies. She also worked as a case manager intern with Catholic Charities, where she witnessed the detrimental effects of housing instability on her clients and became interested in the broader systems that impact access to safe and affordable housing. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, where she earned her MSW with a concentration in community action and social policy. Alayna also holds a BA in English and psychology from the University of Notre Dame. 

Billy Cerullo is NLIHC’s Manager of Training and Innovation. In this role, Billy will lead NLIHC’s development, delivery, and assessment of high-quality trainings, capacity-building initiatives, and innovative training tools. Billy has been working as an organizer for almost a decade and has organized winning campaigns to change education and healthcare policies. Before joining NLIHC, he organized multiple unionization drives as an organizer for the Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA).

Billy is professionally trained through the PICO and Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) traditions of community organizing and has extensive experience organizing and building power within systemically marginalized communities, always keeping an eye toward social, racial, and economic justice in his work. Prior to his organizing career, Billy obtained a bachelor’s degree in American government and public policy from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts, and completed two years of service with AmeriCorps in Washington, D.C. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Adelle Chenier is NLIHC’s Senior Director of Events. An expert in event operations, production, planning, project management, and VIP services, she has been centrally involved in events direction for more than 18 years, overseeing activations for professional and collegiate sports teams, serving as lead operator for a national conference, and planning events for 25,000-person audiences. Adelle plays a key role in advancing NLIHC’s mission by increasing our visibility and expanding engagement through our events.

Adelle developed her passion for directing live events at the sports marketing and event firm Octagon, where she supported activations under the NASCAR, National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), National Basketball Association (NBA), and regional collegiate sponsorships. Her 10-year tenure as senior event manager with Events DC – the Convention and Sports Authority for Washington, D.C. – included managing and executing the AT&T Nation’s Football Classic and serving as project manager for the SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, where she spearheaded operations in conjunction with the mayor’s office for the District of Columbia. Adelle is a proud graduate of Hampton University and a champion for positive change.

Esther Colón-Bermúdez is a research analyst at NLIHC, where she supports the Research team in documenting housing needs, analyzing housing policies, and advancing evidence-based solutions to promote equitable access to safe and affordable housing.

Previously, Esther worked as a research assistant at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, contributing to studies on housing mobility and health outcomes through the Mobility Asthma Project and the Healthy Children Demonstration Evaluation in Baltimore. She also interned at the Bipartisan Policy Center, where she conducted policy research on disaster recovery programs, and at the Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement, where she studied housing insecurity and gentrification in New Jersey. Esther holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico and completed an honors thesis on gentrification and eminent domain in Puerto Rico. She is passionate about using research to inform housing policies that promote stability and equity for low-income communities.

Ramina Davidson is the Vice President of Field Strategy & Innovation. In this role, she leads and supports NLIHC's federal, state, and local organizing and advocacy, member engagement, and training efforts. Ramina has extensive experience in organizing, legislative advocacy, and legal strategy. She also brings deep expertise in using data and technology to achieve advocacy goals and systems change.

Most recently, Ramina led multi-disciplinary advocacy efforts at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law and the National Coalition for the Homeless. Prior to that, she designed a variety of metrics and data scorecards for the Built for Zero initiative at Community Solutions, where she coached several communities toward creating stronger cross-sector homelessness response and prevention systems. Ramina holds a BS in mathematics from UCLA and a JD from Georgetown University. She is a member of the Virginia State Bar.

Lakesha Dawson is NLIHC’s director of operations and accounting. Working closely with the vice president of finance and operations, Lakesha draws on her deep expertise and broad range of experience to implement and enhance the financial, human resources, and administrative processes that enable the Coalition to effectively fulfill its mission. 

Lakesha boasts an extensive track record in non-profit operations, with more than 26 years of experience in the sector. Prior to joining NLIHC, she served for nearly a decade as a finance specialist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. In this role, she oversaw the day-to-day operations of the accounting department, showcasing her exceptional skills in financial processes.  Lakesha’s career has encompassed roles at esteemed organizations such as the Population Reference Bureau, where she served as an accounting coordinator, and the Associate of University Programs in Health Administration, where she was Staff Accountant for 12 years. Her background allows her to bring a wealth of dedication and expertise to her current position at NLIHC.

Lakesha’s leadership and commitment to our mission empowers NLIHC to make meaningful strides towards the realization of socially just affordable housing policies. Her presence serves as a testament to the professionalism and expertise embodied by NLIHC as we advance the cause of accessible and affordable housing for all.  

Lindsay Duvall is the Manager of Member Engagement at NLIHC. In this position, Lindsay helps the field team engage advocates on federal policy priorities to advance the Coalition’s mission and expand NLIHC membership. She has an extensive background in emergency and affordable housing programs, having worked for eight years with NLIHC member Hudson River Housing in Poughkeepsie, New York. As manager of advocacy and community engagement, she crafted outreach strategies, developed partnerships, managed resident leadership initiatives, supported communications projects, and expanded the agency’s advocacy work.

Prior to this role, Lindsay worked on outreach and volunteer mobilization with the Oregon Food Bank. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy from Portland State University.

Thaddaeus Elliott is a housing advocacy organizer at NLIHC. He works with the Coalition’s field team to expand membership and engage advocates in efforts to advance federal policy priorities. Before joining NLIHC, Thaddaeus completed a policy fellowship with the National Ministries of the United Church of Christ (UCC) in its Office of Public Policy and Advocacy in Washington, D.C. As a fellow, he educated and mobilized UCC churches and their members from all over the country to advocate on Capitol Hill for the denomination’s policy priorities relating to environmental justice, criminal justice reform, racial justice, and civil rights. 

Prior to his UCC fellowship, Thaddaeus worked at a local UCC church in his hometown of Miami, Florida, where he organized local youth mission projects supporting the work of Miami-based housing and hunger assistance programs and coordinated the direct assistance provided by the church to those in the community who were unhoused or experiencing economic hardship because of the high cost of housing. Thaddaeus holds an undergraduate degree in education and social policy from Northwestern University, with a specialization in community development and urban issues. He served as an NLIHC policy intern in 2012.

Dan Emmanuel is the Director of Research at NLIHC. Before joining the organization in 2013, he worked in a range of housing and community development contexts, with a particular focus on program evaluation and community needs assessment. Dan earned his BA in philosophy and psychology from the College of William & Mary and his MSW with a concentration in community and organization practice from Saint Louis University.

Janelle is Operations Coordinator at NLIHC. In this role, Janelle supports NLIHC’s administrative and operational infrastructure, ensuring the Coalition’s systems and processes run efficiently and effectively. She manages recordkeeping, financial coordination, and vendor relations, while supporting HR, staffing, and internal logistics. Janelle also assists with board and committee coordination, event planning, and staff operations to strengthen the Coalition’s mission of achieving socially just public policy that ensures people with the lowest incomes have affordable and decent homes. 

Before joining NLIHC, Janelle worked in nonprofit operations and executive support, overseeing board logistics, event coordination, and cross-departmental workflows at national advocacy organizations, including the National Skills Coalition. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Consumer Sciences from Morgan State University and is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Jamaal Gilani is NLIHC's Director of People and Culture. He works closely with the operations and finance teams to achieve the Coalition’s mission and is responsible for leading all aspects of human resources by fostering an inclusive culture, engaging and supporting staff members, and creating a positive overall experience at NLIHC.

Before joining NLIHC, Jamaal gained a wide range of human resources experience while working for organizations in the IT and healthcare fields. In his previous position, with a company helping patients manage chronic kidney disease, he leveraged his strong creative skills and talent for innovative thinking to help the organization grow and boost its revenue. His journey in the administrative and business-partner sides of HR allowed him to find and develop his passion for managing and strengthening organizational cultures. Jamaal is a graduate of Virginia Tech University, where he earned a BA in communications and electronic and print journalism.

David Gonzalez Rice is NLIHC's Senior Vice President of Public Policy. In this role, David provides strategic direction for NLIHC’s federal advocacy, advancing policies and programs that promote accessible and affordable housing for all, as well as equitable federal disaster response and recovery. David brings extensive experience with federal policymaking, systems improvement, and program delivery across housing and human services sectors. 

Prior to joining NLIHC, David served as a policy advisor in the Biden-Harris administration, where he led initiatives to advance equity in housing, homelessness, and child welfare programs. He previously held roles supporting the state of Connecticut's homeless response system. He holds a BA from Rutgers University and a PhD in Political Science from Duke University.  

Raquel worked previously as a research coordinator with the University of California, San Diego’s School of Public Health, where she focused on project and data management for tobacco and cannabinoid policy research projects. She also served as a workforce development program coordinator with the San Diego Housing Federation. Raquel holds a master’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a bachelor’s degree in public health from the University of California, San Diego. In her role as research analyst, she will support NLIHC’s research team through data collection, analysis, and other research-related efforts.

Danita Humphries is executive operations manager at NLIHC. In this role, she ensures that the President and CEO as well as other staff have the proper support needed to reach the Coalition's goals and achieve its mission. Danita comes to NLIHC with an extensive background in executive support and office management. Prior to joining NLIHC, she served as an office manager and contract specialist for a hauling company, where she secured contracts and leads as well as implemented hazard material and go-green programs. 

Danita also has experience supporting lobbyists, directors and VPs of Government Affairs while running the Political Action Committee and Multicultural Outreach programs. She was responsible for fundraising, budgets, maintaining relationships, retaining members, and managing interns for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute.Danita has a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in speech and theatre from Morgan State University.

Nada Hussein is a research analyst with NLIHC. In this role, Nada works to advance the Coalition’s mission and ensure the enforcement and tracking of tenant protections for the lowest-income and most marginalized renters.

Prior to joining NLIHC, she worked with the North Carolina League of Municipalities, where she crafted training programs and drafted reports on homeownership, inequality, and poverty to educate local elected officials about ways to close the Black and Hispanic homeownership gap across the state. She also worked with the North Carolina Justice Center, conducting research into how local governing bodies across the state could use the funds received from the “American Rescue Plan Act” to support renters at risk of eviction.

Nada received her undergraduate degree in political science and sustainability studies from the University of Florida. She holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, where she concentrated in social policy.

Kenza Idrissi Janati is a Housing Advocacy Coordinator on NLIHC's Field Strategy & Innovation team. In this role, Kenza will engage with and expand the breadth of advocates within NLIHC’s network, mobilizing them in strategic efforts to advance the Coalition’s mission and federal policy priorities.

Kenza first joined NLIHC as a Tenant Leader intern, working alongside the IDEAS team to uplift tenant voices at the federal level. Before joining NLIHC, Kenza worked to advance housing solutions through research and legislative advocacy at the Bipartisan Policy Center’s J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy. Prior to that, Kenza served as a Future Leaders in Public Service fellow at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), working to streamline resident engagement and communications efforts from federal to local. Kenza started her advocacy journey at the local level, utilizing personal interviews with residents to advocate for increased housing vouchers in Chester, PA, and to this day, aims to center lived experience while engaging in the field.

Kenza holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and global interdisciplinary studies from Villanova University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in migration studies at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

As a Senior Director of Policy, Kim is responsible for identifying and analyzing federal policy and regulatory activities related to NLIHC’s priorities, advocating around those policies and activities on Capitol Hill, and working with NLIHC's field team to engage NLIHC's members and network in field advocacy. Kim focuses especially on the housing protections in the "Violence Against Women Act," criminal justice reform, and evictions.

Kim is a graduate of George Washington University, where she earned a master’s degree in public policy. During her graduate program, she interned with Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future and with the Senate Minority Health Committee. She also held a fellowship with the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Before graduate school, Kim resided in Harrisonburg, VA, where she worked as an advocate for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. In 2014, she served on an advisory committee to the Obama administration’s White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. Kim holds a BS in psychology and an MA in psychological sciences from James Madison University.

May Louis-Juste is a strategic partnerships project manager at NLIHC. Before joining NLIHC, May worked at DKC, a public relations agency, where she was a media relations coordinator, engaging with media and securing placements in local and national publications for an array of clients. Previously, she was a graduate intern at Edelman, where she assisted in digital communications for CEOs in the health technology and global corporate social responsibility sectors. A graduate of Howard University, May holds a bachelor’s degree in strategic, legal, and management communication with a concentration in public relations and marketing.

Lisa Marlow serves as the director of communications at NLIHC. In this role, she oversees the implementation of NLIHC's communication strategies, managing communication plans, media relations, and public relations to enhance the organization’s visibility and outreach. 

Prior to rejoining NLIHC, Lisa worked at the Urban Institute, where she led strategic communications for the Housing and Communities division. In this position, she identified long-term communication opportunities related to research in housing finance, homelessness, community development, and climate change. 

Lisa holds a master’s degree in strategic communication from American University and a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Towson University.

Meghan Mertyris is a disaster housing recovery analyst, supporting NLIHC’s Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition in all communications, outreach, and advocacy. Before joining NLIHC, Meghan worked as a community organizer at the New Jersey Organizing Project (NJOP) and the New Jersey Resource Project (NJRP), where she built and mobilized a base of more than 1,000 people impacted by Hurricane Ida from across the state to advocate for the passage of legislative and administrative solutions addressing damage caused by the hurricane.

As a result of her organizing efforts, New Jersey received an additional $149 million in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. For her work with directly impacted disaster survivors, she won the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management’s (NJAFM) Community Outreach award. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications, legal institutions, economics, and government from American University, as well as a master’s degree in public administration, also from American University. She also holds a certificate in community-based research.

Khara Norris is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in operations and finance, currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Operations and Finance. Prior to this role, she held the position of Senior Director of Administration, where she successfully oversaw the operations, finance, and various administrative functions. With a strong focus on efficiency and effectiveness, she is dedicated to ensuring the smooth operation of all aspects of the organization.

Her ability to provide budget and financial oversight, strategic planning, and financial analysis, enables her to make informed decisions that drive growth and sustainability. She possesses a meticulous attention to detail and a proven track record of implementing streamlined processes to optimize operational efficiency. Additionally, she is adept at fostering collaborative environments that promote productivity and success.

Khara has served at NLIHC for nearly two decades with a commitment to excellence and a passion for achieving results, continuously improving processes, and driving organizational success.

Libby O’Neill is senior policy analyst with NLIHC. As a member of our policy team, Libby draws on her background in state and federal housing finance to focus on federal affordable housing policy and housing supply. Libby began her career at Florida Housing Finance Corporation, where she initially specialized in multifamily green building policy. Subsequently, she was an administrator of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, in which role she gained in-depth knowledge of affordable housing development. She also worked in the multifamily business at Fannie Mae, conducting research and shaping policies and strategies that address the needs and challenges of renters. Libby holds a master’s degree in social work from Florida State University, with a focus in social policy.

Born and raised in the DC area, Noah came to NLIHC from Baltimore, MD, where he worked at the Homeless Persons Representation Project, Inc. (HPRP), helping to advocate for policies to expand public benefit programs and protecting Housing Choice Voucher holders. After working as a campaign and state house staffer in Maryland, Noah received a JD from the University of Baltimore School of Law. While in law school, Noah was heavily involved in coordinating Legal Observers of the National Lawyers Guild to protect the legal rights of Baltimore-area political protestors and served as a Kellogg’s Law Fellow at the NAACP Office of the General Counsel working on transit equity and educational policy. Noah received his BA in political science from McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. He has been a member of the Maryland bar since 2018. 

Mackenzie Pish is a research analyst at NLIHC, where she documents the housing needs of low-income community members across the U.S.

Prior to joining the Coalition, she worked with Innovation for Justice (i4J) – a social justice-focused legal innovation lab jointly housed at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law and the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business.

At i4J, she led community-engaged and housing-related research, service design, and policy work, helping organize tenant-education workshops, co-creating i4J’s Cost of Eviction Calculator, and co-designing the Housing Stability Legal Advocate Pilot, which has been authorized by the Arizona Supreme Court for use in training and licensing non-lawyer, community-based social service providers to provide upstream legal advice and assistance to low-income people experiencing housing instability. Mackenzie received her JD in 2020 from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, where she was a Distinguished Scholar, an editor of the Arizona Law Review, and a recipient of the S. Thomas Chandler Public Service Award. She received her BA in political science from the State University of New York at Cortland, where she graduated summa cum laude.

Benja Reilly is a development coordinator with NLIHC, helping ensure the Coalition secures the necessary resources to support its mission. Before joining NLIHC, Benja served as Lead Caseworker and Burial Assistance Coordinator for Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington, where he assisted clients with long-term support and self-help. He has also conducted research and planned events with Gallaudet University and the Central American Resource Center as a legal intern. He received his undergraduate degree in religion from Carleton College with a minor in Spanish.

Zenayah Roache, MPA, is a Housing Advocacy Organizer on the NLIHC field team. In her role, she helps expand the Coalition’s network of advocates and engages them in strategic efforts to advance federal policy priorities. Prior to joining NLIHC, Zenayah spent 7 years in national, state, and local justice spaces, ranging from restorative justice to housing justice. Some of her former work spans operational leadership and streamlining processes at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), research and development at the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), equity-centered program design at A Way Home America (AWHA), and systems-level advocacy at the National Coalition for Housing Justice (NCHJ). While engaging in these endeavors, Zenayah obtained a master’s degree in housing policy from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in urban studies and political science from Columbia University.

Dee Ross is NLIHC's first Tenant Leader Fellow. An Indianapolis native, Dee took initiative at the age of 24 to establish The Ross Foundation in order to address the absence of youth programs and basic needs in his community. His commitment to combating racial inequities and poverty led him to found Indiana’s first tenant rights union in 2017, extending aid to over 5,000 residents. Continuing his commitment to social change, he became a co-founder in 2020 of the Ross Legacy Fund, a family philanthropy dedicated to supporting Black-led social change initiatives.

Expanding his impact, Dee established the first statewide tenant rights association in 2021, and in 2022, he co-founded P30, a co-working space that contributed to the launch of 300+ businesses. Currently serving on the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition, he was elected to the Indiana Housing Task Force in 2022. In the same year, he was selected to join the Forbes’ Nonprofit Council. In 2023, Dee joined the National Low Income Housing Coalition leadership cohort, and in 2024, he became the Tenant Leader Fellow, focusing on federal-level housing justice solutions rooted in lived experiences. Dee’s impact extends to the media, with appearances on MTV’s “True Life” and Facebook’s “Returning the Favor.” Recognized locally and nationally, he received prestigious awards from BET, Faith in Action, the Indiana governor, and the Indianapolis mayor and has the honor of having a park named after him, the “Dee Ross Community Park,” in his childhood neighborhood.

Gabby Ross is the manager of NLIHC's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-racism, and Systems-thinking (IDEAS) initiative. In this role, she works to ensure that NLIHC centers equity in our research, policy, and advocacy priorities by weaving into the work the tenets of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. In addition to researching the latest innovations in racial equity, diversity, and inclusion, she gathers data and makes recommendations regarding programs, initiatives, processes, and procedures and assists with the planning and implementation of NLIHC’s IDEAS work plan.

Prior to joining NLIHC, Gabby was a housing stability specialist for a property management company in Washington D.C., where she helped residents apply for emergency rental assistance. Previously, Gabby worked as a housing specialist at N Street Village for the Patricia Handy Place for Women shelter in Washington D.C. During her time there, she worked alongside case managers and community partners to find safe and affordable housing for women at the shelter to help them exit homelessness successfully. Gabby graduated from Howard University in 2019 with a BA in political science and a minor in community development.

Craig Schaar is NLIHC’s Data Systems Analyst. In this role, Craig manages NLIHC databases and provides innovative data management solutions for all team members. He has extensive experience in non-profit membership management, having worked previously as a membership engagement manager with the International Association for Dental Research. Craig holds a master’s degree in international political economy from American University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Arcadia University.

As Senior Director of Field Strategy & Innovation, Brooke Schipporeit oversees NLIHC’s field outreach, organizing, and advocate-mobilization efforts. Brooke previously spent several years in Pennsylvania, where she supported state and local coalitions in their efforts to achieve solutions to housing poverty. As an MSW intern with the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, she informed and mobilized coalition members to advance equitable housing policy. She also served as Philadelphia’s regional housing coordinator for the Self-Determination Housing Project of Pennsylvania, where she focused on expanding affordable and accessible housing options for people with disabilities and older adults. Prior to beginning her career in affordable housing, Brooke worked in direct services in Nebraska for the Head Start program and a domestic violence shelter. She earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania and holds a BS in Social Work from Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Kristen Stehling is the Coalition’s Fund Development Director. In this role, Kristen will lead the fund development team and work closely with the Vice President of External Affairs to support the Coalition’s development and fundraising endeavors.  

Kristen has over 15 years of experience in nonprofit development and fundraising for social justice advocacy. Most recently, she served as Director of Institutional Giving for the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. Prior, she managed foundation and corporate giving at Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC.  

Kristen graduated from The George Washington University’s Elliot School of International Affairs with dual BA degrees in History and Asian Studies.

Carlton Keith Taylor, Jr. (any/all pronouns) is NLIHC's Senior Graphic Communications Coordinator. In this role, Carlton contributes to NLIHC’s communications efforts by offering support in the areas of visual storytelling, graphic design, content creation, web management, social media, and marketing. Before joining NLIHC, Carlton served as a marketing manager for LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, where they led creative efforts to increase global LGBTQ+ political representation, and as a marketing and digital communications manager for the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Carlton holds a bachelor of science degree in public relations from Georgia Southern University and a master of arts degree in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and public policy from George Washington University.

Cecily Thomas is a development coordinator at NLIHC, where they support the external affairs team and its fund development efforts. Cecily is a communications specialist, public health advocate, and fundraiser passionate about housing rights. Most recently, Cecily coordinated the development and digital communication efforts of a small, low-income healthcare services nonprofit in Fairfax County.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cecily was a Health Counselor at the Ali Forney Center, providing services to unhoused LGBTQ+ youth. Before that, Cecily worked at a low-income and unhoused crisis drop-in organization, coordinating communications and development. They also facilitated development and administration efforts at national healthcare academies, such as the American Academy of Physician Associates, American Academy of Neurology, American College of Neurology, and American Chemical Society. They graduated from James Madison University with a culture-focused bachelor of arts in communication studies with a pre-law track. Their combination of national and grassroots efforts empowers them with a unique perspective that is fueled by unbridled passion for the right of accessible, affordable housing and overall compassion for humanity.

Tia is the project manager for NLIHC's Our Homes, Our Votes bipartisan voter engagement campaign. Prior to joining the field team, Tia interned on NLIHC’s policy team while completing her master’s degree. During the 2020 elections, she worked to educate and mobilize unhoused residents in Huntsville, Alabama, witnessing several encampment closures and seeing first-hand the negative impact of the closures on the unhoused community, an experience which led her to become a zealous advocate for housing justice.

After organizing and advocating in her community against harmful encampment closures without the provision of housing, Tia co-founded and became the president of Love Huntsville, a grassroots housing advocacy organization dedicated to serving the unhoused population and advocating for local- and state-level policy changes in Alabama. Tia is a graduate of the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology before completing her master’s degree in sociology at Arizona State University.

Julie Walker serves as the Project Manager for Opportunity Starts at Home. Julie worked previously with Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership (BRHP), where she focused initially on rental assistance before shifting to staff and participant program training, managing the Client Advisory Board, and providing technical assistance to housing authorities developing housing mobility programs. Julie holds a master’s degree in social work from The Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. 

Brandon Weil is NLIHC's Graphic Communications Manager. In this role, Brandon works closely with the other members of NLIHC’s communications team to ensure effective and efficient NLIHC graphic communications project management. Before joining NLIHC, Brandon was art director at Urban Land Institute, where he oversaw digital, print, and video collateral and evolved the global brand to ensure culturally appropriate design and consistency across the organization. In addition to his work at Urban Land Institute, Brandon has significant real estate design experience in both in-house and agency positions. Brandon holds a BFA from Kent State University.

Chantelle Wilkinson is the Coalition's Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Campaigns. Prior to this role, Chantelle served as the Coalition's Opportunity Starts at Home Multi-Sector Campaign Director. Chantelle came to NLIHC from New York, where she worked as a budget analyst for the state legislature and helped enact housing and transportation policies. In 2016, she worked on the Breathing Lights Campaign with the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society. The campaign highlighted the problem of dilapidated vacant housing in the capital region of New York State and spurred collaboration between artists, community organizations, neighborhood ambassadors, project administrators, and government officials.  Chantelle received a BA in political science, with minors in Latin American/ Caribbean studies and Spanish, and an MA in public administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany. 

Renee Williams is NLIHC’s Senior Advisor for Public Policy. As part of the Policy Team, Renee monitors and assists NLIHC’s response to regulatory, legislative, and other developments that impact the ability of people with the lowest incomes to access and remain in affordable homes. Previously, Renee worked at the National Housing Law Project (NHLP) and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

At NHLP, Renee’s work focused on advocacy to preserve, strengthen, and promote fair housing protections; the housing rights of survivors of domestic and sexual violence; and housing access for persons with limited English proficiency. During her nine years at NHLP, Renee provided training and technical assistance to a range of housing stakeholders throughout the United States – including legal services attorneys, domestic and sexual violence survivor advocates, and housing providers. Renee also drafted legislative language eventually enacted into law, evaluated and commented on proposed regulations, and contributed to NHLP’s HUD Housing Programs: Tenants’ Rights (the “Green Book”). At DOJ, Renee worked to implement and enforce federal civil rights protections.

Renee earned a B.A. with High Honors from Emory University and is a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, where she served as Topic Access and Comment Editor for the University of Chicago Legal Forum. She is a member of the California Bar. 

Tiara Wood is NLIHC’s communications coordinator. Tiara provides essential support to NLIHC’s Communications, Events, and Development teams, focusing on the areas of social media, visual storytelling, content creation, event planning, media relations, and marketing.

Before joining NLIHC, Tiara was senior program associate of communications for the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), where she played a vital role in increasing the national impact of the organization by deploying a strategic communications plan, boosting social media engagement, and managing onsite teams in support of national events. She also worked for Star Eyed Events, where she designed and developed a brand identity for the organization’s fan conventions and improved its communications strategy via social media channels. Tiara earned her bachelor of arts degree in political science from Furman University, while also playing on the university’s Division I basketball team.