The public record

Quoted by the City on ending credit checks for voucher holders

City of New York · HPD — billed as Founder, The Eviction Fund of New York City

New York City eliminated credit-check requirements for voucher holders entering city-subsidised affordable housing, opening access for roughly 4,000 families a year. The City’s announcement carried her statement: This opens up a whole new possibility for a better tomorrow for unhoused individuals and families who have been locked out of housing for so long based on their credit.

She added that by removing credit as a determining factor for housing eligibility, society can address the systemic barriers that have perpetuated homelessness.

Quoted on the federal Emergency Housing Voucher shortfall

Gothamist — “Nearly 8K NYC households could lose rent aid as federal program runs out of money”

Speaking as an Emergency Housing Voucher recipient on the prospect of the federal program running dry, she pressed Albany to move: All of our legislators, now this is the time to really act — warning that otherwise you’ll see more and more people become homeless.

David Prize Finalist — Brooklyn

The David Prize · Human Rights

Selected as one of eight Brooklyn finalists for The David Prize, an unrestricted $200,000 award for New Yorkers with ideas to improve the city. Her proposal: an eviction fund providing direct financial support to families who have already been evicted, to carry them to a next step.

Profiled as a Brooklyn housing justice advocate

Brooklyn Paper and BKReader

Two profiles covering her eviction and displacement from the Bronx, her rebuilding in Brooklyn, her founding role at Unlock NYC, and her reported work with the Adams administration on housing plans and the Section 8 program. On what made that government work matter: People who were directly impacted by housing discrimination, including me, we were involved in the process.

Released Unlock NYC’s source-of-income discrimination findings

Press conference, New York City · as member leader, Neighbors Together and Unlock NYC

Speaking at the press conference that published the findings, she framed the gap between the law and the reality: Today we are here to basically release our source of income discrimination findings to let people know that housing is not a human right for everyone yet. It’s still a dream; it’s still an illusion of inclusion.

Testimony for the Housing Access Voucher Program

New York State Executive Budget Hearing on Social Services · Senate Finance and Assembly Ways & Means Committees

Testifying as a leader at Neighbors Together, she made the case for passing and fully funding HAVP — a statewide rental assistance program paying fair market rent — and put a number on the first year.

She also backed the Invest in Our New York revenue platform as the way to pay for it, and framed the stakes around the 92,000-plus people then living in New York shelters.

Founder & Principal, The Ross Brand Consulting

Senior Housing Justice & Policy Strategy Consultant · New York City & State

Leads policy strategy, systems analysis and narrative development for housing justice organizations, advising stakeholders connected to senior city leadership on tenant protections, voucher access and systems-change priorities. Produces legislative memos, policy briefs, testimony and public-facing communications, and supports federal advocacy on voucher access and landlord accountability.

She has also delivered testimony to the New York City Council on voucher access.

Founding member and advisor, Unlock NYC

Unlock NYC · listed as Historian, Activist, Writer

A founding member of the women-led technology nonprofit that equips voucher holders with the documentation, voice and connections to hold landlords and brokers accountable for source-of-income discrimination. She is listed among the organization’s leadership and advisors.

Member, Bronx Community Board 7

Appointed by the Bronx Borough President

Served on Bronx Community Board 7 — the civic body reviewing land use, budget priorities and service delivery for the district — before the illegal eviction that made her homeless. Part of more than twenty years of community involvement in the South Bronx.