The HAND network is hard at work to address the growing housing affordability challenge across the Capital Region. Five Minutes With is a series highlighting these members and other stakeholders. This informal conversation delves into their recent projects, the affordable housing industry, and more. In this edition, we had a conversation with Ronette “Ronnie” Slamin, founder of Embolden Real Estate. Check out our dialogue below to learn about her development firm, what she believes women leaders of color in the real estate industry can do to move the needle in a different direction, and the importance of explaining the multiple levels of housing affordability.

HAND: Can you tell us about Embolden Real Estate and about how you landed in the real estate development industry?
RS: Embolden Real Estate is the company that I founded in 2021, a development firm with consulting services related to project management, entitlements, and community engagement. The name of my company came to me when I was reading a book on education, as I’ve always wanted to work at the intersection of housing and education to improve educational outcomes.

I landed in the industry of real estate by way of an undergrad professor Joseph E. Corcoran at Boston College, who was a successful developer and a pioneer of mixed-income housing. I had returned from a summer service trip to Jamaica and was interested in ways to improve the infrastructure in the remote town I volunteered in. Coincidentally I took his class and realized that real estate development was a great tool to address infrastructure issues such as roads, homes and schools.

HAND: What excites you about working in the real estate development industry?
RS: I am excited about how every day in real estate development is different and how many hats you must wear, from project management, financing, design, construction, property management and sometimes even a social worker. As a person who gets bored easily, I love that it’s always changing and keeps you on your toes. I also love that you can see the result of your hard work just by walking past projects you have completed. 

HAND:  Keeping in mind the history of racism and its impacts on housing, how can leaders of color or, more specifically, women leaders of color in the real estate industry move the needle in a different direction?
RS: The history of racism in the housing industry is a painful reality with deep-rooted impacts that continue to be felt today. I think as an industry, we can move the needle in the right direction by being intentional about creating diverse work cultures and pushing for affordable housing to be in high opportunities neighborhoods.

As a woman of color, I believe we need to be intentional about creating a welcoming space for women and people of color, and by doing so, we will create a welcoming space for all. Research shows that women usually take on more family and household responsibilities. As an industry, we can make an effort to support women by scheduling events at different times (not always in the evening), offering better benefits, and flex work from home. To support people of color in the industry, I think it first starts by increasing exposure to the field. The real estate field is an unknown industry to many, so I think we will start seeing more diversity by creating that exposure and awareness of the opportunities.

HAND: Do you believe there is a “secret sauce” to addressing housing affordability and creating more equitable communities in our region? If so, what do you think that is? What do you think is the most significant obstacle?
RS: I don’t think there’s a secret sauce, but I would say I think it requires creativity and collaboration. Housing affordability is a huge issue that will not be fixed overnight and requires different tools based on the deal. I think if we can work together we will be able to have a huge impact. I would consider the largest obstacle to be marketing and optics. I think the word affordable housing has just become such a loaded term, and with many definitions, we often do not realize that we may not be talking about the same thing. When you mention the word affordable housing, you can sometimes raise red flags where, even if many in the community would qualify for that affordable housing. So, I think marketing needs to explain the affordability levels, the quality, and the great positive outcomes that can come from affordable housing.

HAND: What is your “why”? What keeps you motivated to continue your work in this space?
RS: I stay motivated to work in affordable housing because of its impact on residents and communities. Knowing that you’re providing families a home, a place to create memories, a place to feel safe, and a place to grow is very rewarding and motivating.

HAND: What might you be doing if you weren’t working in this industry?
RS: I would probably be in the sports industry if I were not in real estate. I was working towards being a sports broadcaster or agent before taking that real estate development class in college.

The HAND network is hard at work to address the growing housing affordability challenge across the Capital Region. Five Minutes With is a series highlighting these members and other stakeholders. This informal conversation delves into their recent projects, the affordable housing industry, and more. In this edition, we had a conversation with John Hall, Loudoun County’s new Director of Housing & Community Development. Check out our dialogue below to learn about his nearly 30-year career, what excites him about working in the DMV region again, and what he believes is a “secret sauce” to creating more equitable communities in our region!

HAND: Congratulations on your new role as Loudoun County’s new Director of Housing & Community Development! You have extensive experience in housing and community development – can you tell us about your journey to this point?
JH: Thank you very much!  I cannot believe I have been working nearly 30 years.  My journey has been so fulfilling.  I am grateful for having the privilege to work with so many great communities.  I started in the banking industry with commercial loan servicing and real estate loan administration in Dallas, Texas.  I pursued graduate studies in New York to focus on poverty alleviation activities such as workforce development and all other social welfare policies.  I never imagined integrating my banking experience.  In fact, in my first position after graduate school, my boss told me she hired me because of my banking experience, which is what I was trying to escape.  What I found over the years is that the banking experience provided me with an acute awareness of affirmative covenants, regulatory requirements, as well as commercial acquisition and development knowledge.

I leveraged this knowledge with workforce development to build neighborhood assets with a couple of community development corporations in Texas.  As a non-profit developer, I worked with elected officials, board members and communities to increase rooftops and generate economic activity.  My position in Lubbock, Texas afforded me the opportunity to work with everyone in order to effectuate components of John McKnight’s Asset Based Community Development model. 

From there, I initially arrived in the mid-Atlantic region working at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.  I endeavored to preserve affordable housing on a national level by working in the Mark-to-Market program with qualified non-profit organizations.  Wanting to be closer to the action, I became a field office director at HUD for the capital region and later for the Commonwealth of Virginia.  I left this role as I was appointed agency director for the District of Columbia’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).  We achieved a lot at DHCD with affordable housing production, but what I am most proud of is the interdepartmental collaboration that institutionalized permanent supportive housing using the agency’s annual consolidated Notice of Funding Availability.  Since then, I have gained more experience at the local level overseeing entitlement grants and public housing agencies.

HAND: You were once the director of DC’s Housing and Community Development Department. What excites you about working in the DMV region again?
JH: I am elated to return to the DMV.  There is no place that possesses the intellectual capital this region has.  I am among friends in the business and look forward to re-activating networks to do great things together that benefit the residents of Loudoun County and the whole region.

HAND: As director of a newly established independent department, what excites you about your leadership role in this new department? Do you foresee any challenges? Are there key takeaways from your experience thus far that you are bringing into your new position?
JH: I am excited about the commitment of Loudoun County’s elected officials to provide attainable housing for everyone.  The County’s Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan (https://www.loudoun.gov/5278/Unmet-Housing-Needs-Strategic-Plan) has 143 key action items for us to create the opportunity for victory throughout the county.  Implementing public policy is my forte, and I am overjoyed to join the team.

Housing and community development is hard everywhere. Immediate challenges will be adjusting to rising mortgage interest rates and inflation.  To mitigate this, we must optimize resources with strategic collaborations to produce results.

I have always maintained a strong focus on compliance.  That may go back to my banking days.  We want to spend money wisely and appropriately to reduce any chance of grantors requiring repayment.  I also know that we must be results driven in a relatively short timeframe. Having shovel-ready projects in the development pipeline is key to delivering for county residents.

HAND: According to our Housing Indicator Tool (HIT), 45 percent of renters in Loudoun County spend more than 30% of their income on paying rent. How do you see your role in helping to navigate this issue?
JH: Households should not be rent-burdened.  My objective is to triage this challenge in various ways.  One way is to examine transit-oriented development opportunities.  Metro’s Silver Line recently commenced service in the county.  I see this milestone as an effective way for households living near stations to bundle their housing and transportation costs to improve their quality of life.  Enhancing programming such as the Housing Choice Voucher Program is another mechanism to reduce rent burden.  Participants can leverage the voucher with the Family Self-Sufficiency Program to increase wages whereby the differential in the rent increase is matched by the program and set aside in an escrow account.  Often times participants earn enough for down payments to purchase a home while then using the voucher share toward a mortgage payment.  I would like to see more emphasis placed in this regard to increase homeownership, generate wealth and stabilize families.

HAND: Do you believe there is a “secret sauce” to addressing housing affordability and creating more equitable communities in our region? If so, what do you think that is? What do you think is the largest obstacle?
JH: I believe the secret sauce is collaborating partnerships, where all parties bring resources for a specified period of time.  I do believe, however, that despite competing priorities, we all get done what we want to get done.  We just have to identify partners with shared vision and commitment in making our communities stronger.

HAND: What is your “why”? What keeps you motivated to continue your work in this space?
JH: My upbringing emphasized for me to take care of people around me and not just family but neighbors and community.  So, I am motivated to be the voice for people who are not in the room and who may not know how to use available resources to improve daily living.

HAND: What might you be doing if you weren’t working in this industry?
JH: I would be teaching financial literacy to increase the number of people who break cycles of poverty. 

 

Last month, President Biden signed the largest investment in climate infrastructure in U.S. history, the “Inflation Reduction Act”(IRA). IRA details many provisions centered around clean energy, and its’ goal is to have long-lasting, positive impacts on residents, businesses, and the environment. The White House launched CleanEnergy.gov to provide guidance on rebates and tax credits offered by the IRA. Below is an overview of what the law’s rebates and tax credits could mean for DC residents and business owners summarized from DCSEU’s more detailed analysis of the IRA’s effects in DC.

• The 30% tax credit extension will make going solar even more attractive.

The HAND network is hard at work to address the growing housing affordability challenge across the Capital Region. Five Minutes With is a series highlighting these members and other stakeholders. This informal conversation delves into their recent projects, the affordable housing industry, and more. In this edition, we had a conversation with Ayesha Hudson, the first loan recipient under  Equity in Action (EIA), HAND & Greystone’s debt and equity platform. Check out our dialogue below to learn about her 20+ year career, why she sought to get her project financed by the EIA, and what she believes is a “secret sauce” to creating more equitable communities in our region!

HAND: Congratulations on being the first loan recipient under HAND & Greystone’s Equity in Action program! We’ll get into that shortly, but first, can you tell us about your career journey up until this point?
AH: My career journey has been fulfilling! I am grateful to have achieved a 20+ year career in public service while simultaneously acquiring and managing investment properties. Both pursuits allowed me to impact others’ lives in very positively significant ways. When I consider my trajectory, it makes perfect sense that my path has led me to real estate development. I am motivated, through servant leadership, to create and preserve livable spaces in communities that are often overlooked. My varied career has given me a hands-on, inside look at my communities’ pain points while my empathy was groomed for action. I am looking forward to contributing more by way of quality, livable housing, and resident programming.  

HAND: Now, let’s talk about Equity in Action (EIA), a debt and equity platform designed to increase opportunities for black and brown real estate developers. Can you tell us why you sought to get your project financed by the EIA program?
AH: After engaging HAND’s membership and programming, I believed the EIA program was sincere.  Then when I met the lending team, I was convinced.  I began to see my loan application as a vehicle for positive change that would culminate with building improvements for my residents, growth of my business, and encouragement for other black and brown developers as they seek fair financing options.     

HAND: Tell us more about the project. What communities do you plan to serve, and what differentiates it from others in our region?
AH: This project is serving the beautiful Deanwood community, which has historically been underserved. I grew up within 3 miles of the building and would later respond to medical emergencies as a paramedic in this very neighborhood. While it can be a challenge to preserve housing in the lower socioeconomic areas of the District, our project fuses the business activity of real estate with a social responsibility to others. As an activated real estate development company, we are planning to add renewable resources and a more pleasing aesthetic to our block.  We are surrounded by neighborhood amenities, including public transportation and recreation making it a hidden jewel. We are looking forward to receiving some shine!  

HAND: How does it feel to be the first loan recipient under the Equity in Action program?
AH: I feel enthused, empowered, and better prepared to do this work!  My celebration, however, is tempered by the realization of the long-standing need for these kinds of lending initiatives. Once others follow, more black and brown developers can bring their full energy to the table so we may create better communities for our own communities. 

HAND: Many of us are familiar with the history of racism and its impacts on housing. Can you speak on how you approach your work in this space? How can developers of color in the real estate industry move the needle in a different direction?
AH: I approach my work in this space with a mix of empathy and realism. As I hone my development skills, I am guided by my spirituality and connectedness to the black community. Since my first investment in 1999, I have had an affinity for properties that, on first look, appear blighted. Knowing that our community yields so many hidden jewels, I am conscious of supporting it with the best intentions; financial reward has followed.  Moving any needle requires coordination and attentiveness.  As more developers of color align our skills, resources, and grit with one another, we will move the needle one project at a time. Relationship building and mentorship are integral to its success.      

HAND: Do you believe there is a “secret sauce” to addressing housing affordability and creating more equitable communities in our region? If so, what do you think that is? What do you think is the largest obstacle? –
AH: I believe the lack of housing affordability will need to be systematically dismantled through housing legislation. The laws that govern financing, tax implications, and subsidies present layers of restriction already germane in undervalued communities.  To me, the largest obstacle is fear of change.  The perceived social norms of poor people are woven into real estate development. As political decision-makers revamp laws to create more inclusivity, the housing landscape will inevitably change. 

HAND: What is your “why”? What keeps you motivated to continue your work in this space?
AH: I feel compelled to share my resources and influence in black and brown communities.  I enjoy working with people and being a part of a solution.  Being a housing provider allows me to take part in both callings. My grandfathers were involved in various real estate endeavors to include owning and operating a well-shopped convenience store in West Philly to running a farm in Waldorf, Maryland.  They imparted the importance of building a legacy, having self-reliance, and always sharing.  This opportunity to change my life and those around me is what keeps me motivated. 

HAND: If you weren’t working in this industry, what might you be doing?
AH: In my dreamt-up career, I’d be a part-time civil rights trial attorney who travels the world interviewing and writing about interesting people. 

BIPOC-led nonprofit organizations have limited access to equity building tools and resources. In partnership with Capital One, Prosperity Now is extending the Building High Impact Nonprofits of Color into the DMV area. This fund will grant $1.1 million to Prosperity Now, a national racial and economic justice nonprofit based in Washington, DC.  Prosperity Now will put the funds to immediate use to spark economic advancement and impact through empowering organizations that reflect the communities they serve. Prosperity Now will work with several organizations across the metropolitan DMV to provide leadership and capacity-building opportunities to advance their work. HAND is pleased to be participating in the cohort with the following organizations: 

• Collegiate Directions 
• Latino Economic Development Center 
• LIFT-DC
• Marshall Heights Community Development  
• My Sisters’ Place 
• Safe Sisters Circle 

Check out the official press release here.