“In the face of increased municipal land banking and urban redevelopment, it is imperative to support activities that balance the need to return delinquent properties to the tax rolls with the need to ensure families are educated and given sufficient opportunity to maintain their primary source of wealth: homeownership/land ownership.”
Veralisa Hunter is passionate about helping families build assets and a strong financial future through affordable housing.
Hunter has been an asset coach and housing counselor at Covenant Community Capital, Houston’s oldest Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), since 2011. She is also a community outreach specialist for Houston Community Land Trust, where she connects with people about the benefits of preserving affordable housing. She helps develop educational materials and administer programs so low- to moderate-income families can build assets through savings, education and homeownership. Hunter also advocates for affordable housing through partner agencies, such as her local housing authority’s Program Coordinating Committee, with a focus on developing programs and strategies to help very low-income families achieve self-sufficiency, driven by the dream of homeownership.
Hunter volunteers her time with Fair Housing Neighborhood Rights, petitioning for equitable disaster recovery and access to housing and the Texas Organizing Project, where she has served on the county leadership team. She is also a member of National Community Reinvestment Coalition, where she advocates nationally for policy changes to strengthen pathways for affordable housing.
Organization:
Covenant Community Capital, Houston
Area of Focus:
Affordable housing
Fellowship Project:
Advance social justice through housing education that helps families protect their largest asset, especially in the face of significant economic challenges.