Kirsten Elliott, Community Housing Network, (Troy) – Region 5

In her seventeen years with Community Housing Network, Kirsten Elliott has grown the development department into one of Michigan’s lead developers of affordable housing.

Kirsten manages all aspects of real estate development, analyzes proposed legislation, and ensures the voices of people in need are heard by advocating for funding increases at the local, state and federal levels.

In recent years, Elliott has closed over $22 million in transactions, including the 18 million dollar adaptive reuse of the old Jefferson school, providing 60 units of affordable housing in Oak Park. Kirsten also led the effort leveraging lease-to-purchase housing in Pontiac, transforming vacant, blighted lots into a thriving community. Kirsten also leads the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan’s annual Real Estate Boot Camp, where she trains future leaders in affordable real estate development.

Kirsten recognizes the need for resident-informed care and community-building. With the help of a community engagement coordinator, she is integrating ACEs Too High, a public health strategy tackling the way childhood traumas affect physical and mental health into the service array into CHN’s housing. This addresses a potential resident’s ability to engage, heal, and develop resiliency plans.