Rachael Drew_Letter of Interest — File 26-1166

Somerville Affordable Housing Trust​ Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development​ City of Somerville 12/21/2025 Dear Members of the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust, I am writing to express my interest in serving on the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust (SAHT). I have been a Somerville renter resident for over eight years, and I care deeply about the city’s ability to remain an inclusive, livable community for residents across income levels. I am motivated by the Trust’s role in stewarding public resources to support long-term affordability and equitable housing. While my professional background is not rooted in municipal government or housing development specifically, my career has been centered on learning complex systems quickly, exercising sound judgment, and contributing thoughtfully to public-interest decision-making. Through my work at MIT Solve and in social impact consulting, I have designed and managed programs that require careful review of proposals, due diligence conversations, development of evaluation criteria, and collective decision-making where equity, accountability, and tradeoffs are front and center. I bring strong discernment, a systems-level perspective, and experience navigating stakeholder priorities and the interests of nonprofits, funders, and public institutions. I am comfortable asking informed questions, weighing evidence, and engaging constructively with subject-matter experts. I would approach this role with humility and a genuine commitment to learning, including deepening my understanding of Somerville’s housing tools, policy context, and affordability goals. In addition to my professional experience, I have been actively engaged in Somerville’s civic and political life. I have been involved with my local Ward 2 group, including serving on its committee, and I have volunteered on political campaigns through door knocking and canvassing. These experiences have strengthened my appreciation for the ways local policy decisions affect residents’ daily lives and reinforced my commitment to participatory, accountable local governance. Serving on the Trust would be a meaningful way for me to contribute my skills as a social impact professional and engaged resident to one of the most pressing challenges facing Somerville. Thank you for your time and consideration. I would welcome the opportunity to further discuss my interest in serving on the SAHT.​ ​ Best,​ Rachael Drew​ Somerville, MA