The United States is facing a housing crisis that is alarmingly growing into unprecedented proportions. Millions of Americans struggle to find and maintain adequate housing because of price surges, stagnant wages, and a shortage of affordable homes. The gap between incomes and housing costs is widening, and more and more families are at risk of homelessness or living in substandard conditions. Substandard homes risk the health and well-being of individuals and families. Unfortunately, approximately six million homes in the U.S. are classified as substandard.
This complex issue requires innovative solutions from dedicated individuals willing to take action. Freyja Harris made it her mission to contribute to addressing the housing crisis through home preservation initiatives as the Executive Director of the Coalition for Home Repair. The motivation behind this endeavor stems from her understanding of the challenges facing low-income homeowners.
Harris is a dedicated attorney, policy planner, and public administrator. She has spent over 20 years empowering organizations and individuals to achieve transformational change. With a background in law, urban planning, and public administration, she is skilled in leading teams through complex projects, promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
The dynamic woman of many hats was inspired by her grandfather, who worked as a copy clerk for the Florida Supreme Court. "He instilled in me a strong work ethic and a passion for justice. I witnessed firsthand how he took pride in his job even when in the face of discrimination. He saw his superiors as giants, but to me, he was my giant. I want to protect him, and I know I can do this by addressing civil rights issues. That's why I became a lawyer," Harris shared. She then obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from the University of Florida and later obtained a law degree at Wayne State University Law School.
Harris's focus on affordable housing and supportive services came from her experiences working with homeless populations in Colorado as a housing counselor and program liaison. As she witnessed the challenges faced by marginalized communities in accessing decent housing, she was motivated to be part of the solution. Because of this newfound mission, she pursued master's degrees in Urban Planning and Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver.
Harris has assumed various roles throughout her career, including working as a housing policy analyst at Florida Housing Finance Corporation and executive director at the Florida Coalition for the Homeless. Her experiences in these roles shaped her understanding of policy planning and administration, leading her to advocate for inclusive policies and programs.
The woman leader's previous role as the chief diversity and inclusion officer at the University of Michigan, in particular, allowed her to develop strategic initiatives and activities to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. She built trust with faculty, students, and staff, building a culture of inclusivity and collaboration.
Harris later became the chief administrative officer at the Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, where she utilized her legal expertise to address systemic challenges faced by the organization. Her leadership served as the organization's anchor in navigating the challenges brought by the pandemic. She continued her advocacy for marginalized communities and led local leaders as the project director of the Pontiac Funders Collaborative at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
Following the years she spent fighting for the rights of marginalized communities and working to address the root causes of poverty and inequality, the accomplished professional now focuses on leading a team of experts at the Coalition for Home Repair who share her vision. The nonprofit organization was founded by Becca Davis, starting as a platform for like-minded individuals passionate about home repair practices to share dialogue.
The Coalition has grown since then, extending its reach across 38 states and completing over 71,000 projects in the last five years. Harris's shift to this role illustrates her commitment to advocating for holistic solutions to systemic housing challenges, revitalizing communities, preventing homelessness, and promoting long-term stability.
When asked about the motivation behind her drive to positively impact communities, Harris answered, "I'm very enthusiastic with the work I do. Decades of being in this field, I witnessed the limitations of short-sighted programs. I'm proud of the potential of our initiatives at the Coalition. We do our best to dispel the notion that home repair is just a temporary fix. It's actually the pillar of sustainable homeownership."
Freyja Harris's journey shows the power of advocacy and collaboration. Her experiences witnessing injustice and assuming leadership roles allowed her to remain committed to making a positive change by empowering communities. "Our work is far from over, but together, we can continue to build a more equitable and inclusive world," she assured.
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