Since joining Eden Housing in 2013, Susie Criscimagna has managed or supervised approximately $2 billion in affordable housing development, encompassing 2,800 homes and counting.
She has risen through the ranks at the leading nonprofit, becoming vice president of real estate development two years ago. In her role, she oversees all phases of the development process, including site acquisition, financing, design, construction, and lease-up. Criscimagna also manages a substantial team of developers.
“I hope the homes we build give people a sense of dignity and stability so they can focus their energy on their goals, their families, and the communities around them,” she says. “I’m lucky to get a glimpse of that impact at Eden’s annual scholarship event, where we hear about the incredible things our residents are accomplishing and the careers they’re pursuing—often in service of others, in fields like medicine, mental health, environment, and social justice.”
One notable development for Criscimagna is the Vivalon Healthy Aging Campus, a mixed-used development in San Rafael, California, that brings together a health clinic, a senior center, and affordable housing for seniors under one roof.
Criscimagna’s influence reaches beyond Eden Housing. She serves on the selection committee for Terner Labs’ Housing Venture Lab, a program that supports entrepreneurs with ideas to address the housing crisis.
What drew you to affordable housing?
My first job in the housing industry was at the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, where I had the opportunity to help write sections of their annual report on housing in America. I was stunned by the gap between the number of affordable homes in this country and the number of people who needed them. From there, I decided I wanted to be the boots on the ground to help close that gap by working as an affordable housing developer.
Who or what inspires you?
My colleagues. They are brilliant, hardworking, kind, and compassionate. I’m also constantly inspired by the creativity they bring to this work—whether it’s finding new ways to finance a deal, keep costs down, or expedite the development process. I appreciate the challenge of trying to keep up with them.
What habit or routine has contributed most to your success?
Staying curious and not being afraid to ask questions. Even now, midway through my career, I can get sheepish about asking questions, but I make myself do it and never regret it.
How do you explain the importance of affordable housing to someone outside the industry?
Affordable housing comes down to a simple question: Who gets to live in a community? The people who work in our neighborhoods, teach our kids, and care for our families should have a realistic opportunity to live in the communities they’re a part of too.
If you weren't working in affordable housing, what career might you have pursued?
Maybe I’d be a geologist. My favorite class in college was mineralogy, and I spent a term off campus with the geology department, roadtripping and camping across the western U.S. It’s not at all relevant to my career, but every now and then it’s gratifying to identify the minerals in the cement or a countertop.