Christopher Persons is retiring after 18 years at the helm of Community Roots Housing, a longtime nonprofit based in Seattle. His last day as CEO will be Oct. 31.
Under his leadership, the organization has completed a number of prominent affordable housing communities.
“All of the developments are my favorite,” he says. “There is a lot that we’ve done as an organization that has been very rewarding.”
One is the 115-unit Liberty Bank Building in Seattle’s Central District. The community-led development honors the legacy of the first Black-owned bank in the Pacific Northwest while ensuring that people who were at risk of being displaced from the neighborhood could continue to live there, says Persons.
Another is Pride Place, a 118-unit LGBTQIA-affirming affordable housing community for seniors in Seattle.
Community Roots, formerly Capitol Hill Housing, owns and operates about 2,000 units, with another 810 units in the pipeline.
In addition to building impactful developments, the organization has been trying new approaches to the work. It’s one of six Seattle-area nonprofits joining forces in Rise Together, an initiative to create equitable developments in the community. Their capital campaign has raised over $40 million to fund six projects and support the partners’ community development goals.
Persons has also been a leader beyond Community Roots. He’s on the board of the Housing Partnership Network (HPN), a collaborative of more than 100 of the nation’s leading housing and community development organizations.
“Chris’ deep commitment and visionary leadership have transformed the landscape of affordable housing,” says Robin Hughes, president and CEO of HPN. “His unwavering passion for creating equitable communities has inspired countless individuals and organizations to join this vital mission. As he embarks on this next chapter, his legacy will continue to guide our work in pursuit of housing for all Americans. I am thankful for Chris’ invaluable contribution and dedication to HPN, our network members, and the communities they serve.”
Looking ahead, Persons plans to finish writing a book on how to build consensus in a mission-based organization.
“That’s about 95% of my job, just getting everyone on the same page,” says Persons, who began his career as executive director of the Eastside Teen Center in Flint, Michigan. Before joining Community Roots, he was executive director of Inspiration Corp., a homeless and housing services agency in Chicago.
The housing sector, particularly affordable housing, is underfunded and overregulated, according to Persons.
He points out that after World War II the country went on a building spree to create small houses that served as important starter homes for families. “We need that kind of production,” he says. “We need to think out of the box on where we can develop affordable housing. We need to get more creative about reducing some of the regulatory barriers and regulatory costs.”
Despite the industry’s challenges, Persons says he is inspired by the energy and dedication of HPN members and other affordable housing organizations.
“What gives me hope is the people,” he says. “… That kind of commitment is going to continue to make the industry strong and survive.”
