Q &A with Donna Trowers-Morrison

The Housing & Community Development Leadership Institute (HCDLI), funded by the Connecticut Department of Housing and Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, fosters a talent pipeline for the community development sector. HCDLI supports a cohort of participants who each complete a defined list of courses designed to introduce fundamental aspects of community development. The participants engage in internships or other learning opportunities with a partnering CDC or other community development organization. LISC Connecticut interviewed HCDLI participant Donna Trowers-Morrison. 

Donna, a Windsor resident since 1993, was born and raised in Jamacia, and emigrated to the United States in 1982.  She was one of 17 participants in the first HCDLI cohort.

What is your current occupation, and/or if in school, what are you studying?
It’s almost a year (August 9, 2022) since I started my six-month internship at the Town of Windsor as a Housing Rehabilitation Program Assistant, through my professional development with Housing and Community Development Leadership Institute (HCDLI). In addition, I continued my roles as Director of Community Outreach at North Family Life Center and Operations Manager for North UMC Collin Bennett Building.

During internship, HCDLI continues to be a valuable resource for learning, professional development, and acquiring my Community Development Block Grant Certificate. I possess an undergraduate degree in accounting from Central Connecticut State University and completed a master’s in communication and information management at Bay Path College (MA) in 2002.

Why are you interested in learning more about Affordable Housing & Community Development?
The lingering plight of health and housing disparities for the marginalized were further magnified during the pandemic and continue to capture my interest but I also want to join other community advocates and affordable housing champions to influence equity policies that strengthen housing stability and economic growth to low- and moderate-income residents.

What are your goals once you have completed the program?

Post internship, increasing my knowledge in Asset Management and utilizing those skills in affordable housing development will be my priority. Furthermore, I plan to dedicate the necessary time and energy to build more sustainable relationships with allies and channel other resources to realize the dream of maximizing affordable housing in my lifetime, for the next generation. 

To achieve this, I will:

• Assist municipalities with their housing plan to increase housing stock through the addition of Accessory Dwelling Unites (ADUs); one qualified home at a time
• Influence housing development that will benefit the underserved
• Build on the ‘elevate’ strategy to provide opportunities for our seniors to move to adaptable housing, young families to live in opportunity zones and make room for those who are homeless

Who or what inspired you to get involved in this field of work?

Securing affordable housing for our neighbors is a legacy from my parents. As a residential builder, my dad was relentless in ensuring that housing needs are met by donating time, using personal funds to acquire material, and teaching the trade to the young men in the community.  Their selfless contributions initiated my interest at first but it’s the unequal opportunities in realizing the American dream that inspire my involvement over the last two decades. Most recently, it’s the opportunity that HCDLI provides.

What has surprised you most about this field of work?

Multifamily Rehabilitation, that benefits low-to-moderate income residents, and Community Neighborhood Enhancement grant programs are two of the projects that I helped to launch at the Town of Windsor. During my internship, I realized the importance of housing rehabilitation to maintain existing housing stock and balancing the need for affordable housing development to increase housing stock. I was surprised about the ongoing challenges that fixing while building homes presents, the demanding tasks of the town manager to keep all the departments functioning, and the commitment required every day of the community and economic development leaders to identify the resources to minimize the growing waiting list for housing rehabilitation.