By Christol Wright, Policy Intern
NLIHC is excited to welcome Christol Wright as a Summer 2025 policy intern. Christol holds a bachelor’s degree in community and human services and a master's in social and public policy from Empire State University. Her personal and professional experiences have laid a strong foundation for her commitment to advocating for Housing First policies and addressing homelessness at both systemic and individual levels. Having grown up in poverty in Rochester, NY, Christol experienced the challenges of economic insecurity firsthand. For her, poverty meant living in a household that constantly faced financial instability. These early experiences ignited a deep passion for understanding public policy and advocating for structural change.
Christol completed a ten-week program and a 20-hour homeless certification focused on housing-supportive practices to further her expertise. These programs prepared her to work with individuals navigating homelessness or major housing transitions. Christol began her professional journey by assisting formerly incarcerated individuals in securing stable housing through resources such as Section 8 and tax credit properties, intending to reduce recidivism and promote community reintegration. This experience solidified her decision to pursue a social and public policy graduate degree.
At NLIHC, Christol is eager to deepen her understanding of affordable housing systems, policy challenges, and advocacy strategies. She is dedicated to advancing housing justice and building and sustaining affordable housing solutions that eliminate homelessness and promote long-term community stability.