Email Expressing Interest Redacted — File 23-1075

1 Morena Zelaya From: Elizabeth Champion Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 10:01 PM To: CondoBoard Subject: Champion, Elizabeth - Condo Review Board Member Application Attachments: Champion, Elizabeth_Resume_11.30.22.pdf Hello,     Please kindly consider my application to be a member of Somerville's condominium review board. My resume and  statement of interest are attached here. Let me know if you need any further information or have any questions. I  look forward to hearing from you!    Best,  Elizabeth     ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  Housing stability has been a passion of mine personally and professionally for many years now. I moved to Somerville (Ball Square!) in September, and it was my third move in 6 months after struggling to find an affordable unit close by to public transportation. This was the first time in my life that I personally experienced the acute stress of housing instability and the psychological stress that comes with it. It had a profound impact on how I think about the tenure of rentership, and sparked a newfound empathy for others who go through this situation under even more complicated circumstances. I want to serve on the Condominium Review Board because housing stability is something I hope to ensure other fellow Somerville residents - my neighbors - have, and I want to make sure tenants are aware of their rights and opportunities when being transitioned out of a rental unit. In the short time I’ve lived here, I fell in love with Somerville, my neighbors, my local walking paths and small businesses. I believe Somerville is an incredibly warm, inclusive, and diverse city to live in, and that all those who want to remain in Somerville should have that choice, regardless of socioeconomic situation or disability status.     I moved to Massachusetts from Washington, DC earlier this year for a new job opportunity. While in DC, I worked for a think tank called the Urban Institute, where I researched housing policy. My work covered a range of topics, but I primarily focused on affordable rental housing (to view my full set of research papers, see here) and housing stability. My work was highly intersectional, but centered on the thesis that safe, affordable housing is a foundation for upward mobility, and can impact things like physical and mental health, educational outcomes, and job stability. My research and experience also focused on the intersections of housing stability and racial equity, and intergenerational housing stability. I have an in-depth understanding of the unique challenges people with disabilities face in finding and keeping affordable rental housing, so I am especially passionate about reducing their disproportionate rate of evictions.     The City of Somerville, like so many other cities around the country, has an affordable housing emergency. I want to be a conduit to make sure that landlords follow and are aware of the guidelines set forth in Somerville Condominium/Cooperative Conversion Ordinance, including a tenant’s rights to relocation benefits. I want to bring a compassionate but thoughtful perspective to whether and how rental units are removed from the housing stock. Many thanks for your time and consideration.