Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirsten Elliott.
Hi Kirsten, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story really begins with lived experience. I grew up with housing insecurity in a single-parent household and benefited from Section 8 housing as a child. Because that housing was in a stronger school district, I had access to better educational opportunities and eventually became the first in my family to graduate from college. I saw early on that stable housing can change the trajectory of a life.
Later, as a single mother raising a son with cerebral palsy, I again faced housing insecurity and relied on subsidized housing myself. Having a safe and affordable home gave me the stability I needed to raise my son, continue my education, and build a future. So, I know personally that housing is not just about shelter. It is the foundation that makes everything else possible.
After college, I wanted to dedicate my career to service and community impact. I joined Community Housing Network as its third employee, where I launched the Housing Resource Center. My role was to help individuals and families understand how housing systems worked, connect them to available resources, and support them in finding and keeping stable housing.
Very quickly, I realized that helping people navigate systems was important, but there simply were not enough housing resources to meet the need. That shifted my focus toward bringing more resources into the community. I became deeply involved in grant writing, homeless response systems, affordable housing development, and community partnerships to expand opportunities for people across Michigan.
Over the past 25 years, that work has grown into a career centered on one belief: when people have stable housing, lives change. Children do better, health improves, families stabilize, and communities become stronger. Today, as President and CEO of Community Housing Network, I still carry that same mission. Housing helps people thrive, and when our neighbors thrive, we all do.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it has definitely not been a smooth road. I’ve been with Community Housing Network for 25 years, and during that time we’ve navigated the Great Recession, the pandemic, housing shortages, funding uncertainty, and growing community need. The work has always mattered, but it has rarely been easy.
One of my biggest personal challenges was learning that service work is deeply meaningful, but it cannot become self-sacrifice without limits. For many years, I overextended myself. I worked when I was sick, carried problems home, and felt personally responsible for outcomes far beyond my control. I believed that if I did not push harder, people would suffer.
Over time, I had to learn the difference between what is mine to carry and what is not. I had to accept that I cannot solve every problem, meet every need, or save everyone. That was a hard lesson, but an essential one.
There is a story about a child walking a beach after a storm, throwing stranded starfish back into the ocean one by one. Their grandpa says, “You can’t save them all. What difference does it make?” The child throws another one back and says, “It made a difference to that one.”
That story stayed with me. Real change often happens one person, one family, one home at a time. Over the last 25 years, Community Housing Network has served hundreds of thousands of people. I’ve learned that success is not measured by solving everything overnight. It is measured by showing up, doing the work well, and changing lives one by one.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Today, I have the honor of serving as President and CEO of Community Housing Network, where our mission is to empower people to live in affordable homes to help build thriving communities across Michigan.
My role is to make sure our work is strategic, sustainable, and responsive to the real needs people are facing. That includes everything from affordable housing development and homeless response systems to partnerships, funding strategy, operations, and long-term vision. Housing challenges can feel overwhelming, so I see my job as helping turn complexity into practical solutions.
What I specialize in is understanding the full housing ecosystem. Over the last 25 years, I’ve worked in almost every area of the organization, which has given me a rare perspective on how all the pieces fit together. I understand how federal programs, state resources, private investment, philanthropy, real estate development, and direct services all interact. That allows me to identify gaps, build partnerships, and create solutions that are both innovative and realistic.
What I’m probably most known for is being able to see the larger picture while never losing sight of the individual human being at the center of it. Housing policy matters, but so does the single parent trying to keep her children stable. Financing matters, but so does the person with a disability who needs support to live independently.
What I’m most proud of is the collective impact our team has made over the years. Community Housing Network has helped hundreds of thousands of people and created housing opportunities for individuals and families who otherwise may have been left behind.
What sets me apart is a combination of lived experience, decades of hands-on work, and a deep belief in collaboration. I know what stable housing can mean because I’ve lived it. I know systems because I’ve worked inside them for decades. And I know lasting solutions only happen when we bring people together around a shared purpose.
At the end of the day, this work is never about one person or one organization. It is about building communities where everyone has the chance to thrive.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Absolutely. No meaningful work is ever accomplished alone, and I would not be where I am today without many people who believed in me, challenged me, and created opportunities along the way.
First, I would recognize Marc Craig, the founder of Community Housing Network. Marc had a bold vision for what the organization could become, but what made him special as a leader was that he empowered others to grow into that vision. He gave people room to try new ideas, take thoughtful risks, and learn through experience. Early in my career, he trusted me with responsibilities that stretched me, and that belief helped shape the leader I became.
I’m also deeply grateful for our executive leadership team. Strong organizations are built by talented people working together with trust and shared purpose. Our CFO, Carrie Mendoza, brings exceptional financial leadership and helps guide complex decisions with wisdom and discipline. Shelly Brinkman, our Vice President of Programs, brings deep expertise in service delivery, systems design, and making sure our work truly meets community needs. Maggi Perry, our Vice President of Operations, ensures the organization runs smoothly and sustainably, and our Vice President of Real Estate helps advance the housing developments that create long-term impact. I rely on their insight every day.
Beyond that, I’ve learned so much from staff across every level of the organization. The people doing direct service work, property management, outreach, maintenance, finance, and administration all carry wisdom about what communities need.
And finally, our clients have been some of my greatest teachers. They have shown me resilience, courage, humor, and the importance of never reducing a person to their hardest chapter. Many of the best ideas in this field come from listening closely to the people most impacted.
Whatever success I’ve had has always been shared success.
Pricing:
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