Kirsten believes that every individual deserves a chance to overcome trauma. She also believes that affordable housing is an essential part of a holistic approach to a fresh start, opening doors, and transforming lives.
Kirsten has spent her career developing affordable housing communities and creating housing resources for vulnerable populations. As Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, Kirsten collaborates with the President in setting and driving organizational vision, operational strategy, overseeing company operations and building a highly inclusive culture ensuring the organizational outcomes are met. Kirsten translates strategy into actionable goals for performance and growth helping to implement organization-wide goal setting, performance management and annual operating planning.
Kirsten Elliott has more than 20 years of experience as an administrator of project and program development, creating affordable housing for people in need. She is a passionate advocate for sustainable, inclusive communities with a vast knowledge of disability issues. She is seasoned in affordable real estate development. Kirsten is accomplished at securing permanent solutions through proven homeless prevention strategies while being responsive to the community’s changing needs.
Awards and Acknowledgements:
- 2019 Notable Women in Real Estate by Crain’s Detroit
- 2018 CEDAM Community Development Advocate of the Year
- 2018 recipient of the Corrie Bair Building Inclusive Communities Award. This award is presented annually by the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition to an individual or organization that has made significant accomplishments in creating inclusive communities.
- 2015 “Leader of Leaders” award recipient
- Graduate of Leadership Oakland Class XVI
- 2004 Homeless Service Award from the Oakland County Taskforce on Homelessness and Affordable Housing.
Past and Present Community Engagement:
- Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM)
- Member and past Board Member and President
- Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan Board Member
- Past Lead Facilitator of CEDAM Real Estate Boot Camp
- Former Co-Chair of the Oakland County Continuum of Care
- Annually wrote the Consolidated Application to HUD, accruing more than $37.8 million awarded to homeless service providers since 2002.
- Former certified MSHDA homebuyer counselor
- Former manager of the Housing Resource Center at Community
- Housing Network (CHN) representing the organization at the county and state levels.
- Former co-chair of Oakland County Homeless Taskforce, Oakland County Continuum of Care
Past and Present Certifications:
- Michigan Licensed Real Estate Agent
- Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) – Real Estate Development Training Program Certificate
- Michigan State Housing Development Authority – Certified Home Buyer Counselor
- 2008 Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) – Michigan Supportive Housing Institute certificate
- Grantsmanship Training Program Certificate
- National Center Housing Management certified occupancy specialist; and Housing Quality Standards (HQs) inspector and certified homebuyer counselor through Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)
Notable Accomplishments Under Kirsten’s Leadership:
- Secured $86.6 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits since 2011 developing 263 units of safe, affordable integrated permanent supportive housing.
- Supervised the development and administration of $6.8 million of HOME grant programs used to acquire and rehabilitate homes for individuals with disabilities and others in need, both rental and homeownership.
- Created more than 880 units of affordable housing for people with low to moderate incomes, including supportive housing units.
- Successfully developed 17 HUD Supportive Housing Programs for homeless families that created more than 410 units of housing with an annual budget of more than $3 million.
- Successfully developed and implemented four HUD Section 811 grants resulting in $13.3 million to produce 47 new units of affordable housing for people with disabilities.
- Accessed more than $2.5 million in grants from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and other sources to leverage housing development program funds.
- Served as the co-chair of the Oakland County Continuum of Care, wrote the Consolidated Application to HUD, resulting in more than $42.8 million awarded to homeless service providers since 2002.