Jodi Smith joined our board in January. As Senior Vice President of Housing Education Services at Way Finders, she manages financial education and housing stabilization services for people facing housing challenges – whether they are unhoused, renters, or homeowners.
Her entire career has focused on housing, including supporting survivors of domestic violence in finding transitional housing at the YWCA Western Massachusetts, where she served as deputy director for 23 years. A survivor of domestic violence herself, she views secure housing as the foundation for every aspect of well-being.
She first learned of Wellspring at a training on shared equity housing two years ago, and is curious about co-ops and community land trusts. “Community ownership speaks to me. The focus on people using their strength to support their communities aligns with who I am personally and what I do professionally. The work I do in affordable housing runs parallel to what Wellspring does in building strong local economies.”
Jodi sees Wellspring’s recent purchase of a house in Indian Orchard and potential purchase of a building in Holyoke as stepping stones toward creating affordable housing through a community land trust, and is excited to see where these projects go.
Welcome, Jodi!