NEW YORK (PRWEB) January 30, 2018
Habitat for Humanity New York City (Habitat NYC), a major advocate for affordable homeownership in New York City, today announced that CEO Karen Haycox was elected to the Stonewall Community Development Corporation (SCDC) Board of Directors. SCDC is a non-profit community development corporation working to address the growing crisis in housing and services facing New York City’s LGBTQ elder community.
“Senior LGBTQ individuals are more likely to live in poverty and face discrimination in housing,” said Karen Haycox. “I am humbled and excited to participate on the Board of SCDC and add my voice and passion to the incredible work they do. Through this opportunity, I honor my late wife Trudy, and look forward to serving the elderly LGBTQ community in providing an inclusive place to call home.”
Stonewall CDC Executive Director Paul Nagle said, “These issues are deep and complicated and addressing them requires a special combination of pragmatism and innovative thinking. Karen Haycox brings undeniable expertise and passion to her work and we are thrilled that she has joined our board.”
Haycox is a major champion for affordable homeownership throughout the five boroughs. She has lead Habitat NYC to pioneer several innovative solutions to help address the city’s affordable housing crisis, including a successful push for the city to recognize Community Land Trusts, a soon-to-be certified community development financial institution (CDFI), and the largest Habitat for Humanity project in the world at Sydney House in the Bronx. Prior to becoming CEO of Habitat NYC, Haycox held leadership positions with Habitat for Humanity International and served as Vice President, Fund Development at Southwest Solutions, a leading provider of human services, affordable housing, and economic development in Detroit.
In addition to her professional contributions to the community, Haycox is an active LGBTQ advocate. Her commitment to action was featured in the book “Pantsuit Nation,” and she continues to advocate for equality and progress through public speaking opportunities, writing workshops, and participation and leadership in other grassroots movements. She also leads a Habitat NYC contingent in NYC Pride.
Haycox joins the board of politically engaged, respected, and known members of the NYC LGBTQ community lead by President Tom Smith. The board advises on the strategic vision of the organization providing a breadth of collective knowledge and experience in housing, community development, government relations, and senior care.
About Habitat for Humanity New York City
Habitat for Humanity New York City transforms lives and communities by building and preserving affordable homes with hardworking families—and by uniting all New Yorkers around the cause of affordable housing and homeownership. With the help of thousands of volunteers each year, Habitat NYC builds and repairs homes for families across the five boroughs. Learn more at http://www.HabitatNYC.org and connect with us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @HabitatNYC.
About Stonewall Community Development Corporation
The vision of Stonewall Community Development Corporation (SCDC) is to see LGBTQ older adults in New York in welcoming home environments they can afford, with culturally competent services that meet their unique medical and psycho-social needs. Committed to an evidence-based approach, SCDC recently completed a groundbreaking citywide survey of the housing and related healthcare needs of LGBTQ seniors, creating the first ever market profile of this population. SCDC is now working with residential real estate developers and service providers to model housing and service strategies to meet the needs of this particularly vulnerable demographic.