Renee M. Willis has been named president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC).
She takes over the top post after nearly a decade of leadership at NLIHC, having joined the organization in 2015 as vice president for field and communications. She later served as senior vice president for racial equity, diversity, and inclusion before being named interim president and CEO at the beginning of this year.
“I am so grateful to the board for entrusting me with this opportunity to lead NLIHC into its next chapter,” Willis said in a statement. “It is both an honor and a responsibility I do not take lightly—especially as the first Black woman to serve as president and CEO of this vital organization. I carry with me the legacy and values of my grandparents, who came from the proud and resilient lineage of sharecroppers in rural Virginia. They taught me the value of dignity, community, and justice—values that ground my work every day.”
Based in Washington, D.C., the prominent organization educates, organizes, and advocates to ensure decent, affordable housing for everyone. It seeks to strengthen housing policy and expand low-income housing in the country.
Willis was selected after a nationwide search following the departure of former president and CEO Diane Yentel, who joined the National Council of Nonprofits.
“Renee brings a deep commitment to housing justice, a proven track record in advancing racial equity, and a powerful vision for ensuring that all people—especially those with the lowest incomes—have a safe, affordable place to call home,” said Bambie Hayes-Brown, board chair. “Her leadership, compassion, and policy expertise are exactly what this moment demands, and we are excited for the future of NLIHC under her guidance.”
NLIHC’s efforts include the HoUSed campaign to call for long-term solutions to ensure affordable and stable housing for those most in need. It also worked to create the National Housing Trust Fund, the first new housing resource since 1974 aimed at building and preserving rental housing for extremely low-income residents.
In addition, its research is highlighted in key annual reports, including “Out of Reach” and “The Gap.”
“At our core, NLIHC will continue to lead with excellence—grounded in our people, our data, and our policy,” said Willis. “We will defend and advance the housing programs that millions rely on, and we will do so with clarity and courage. But we will also unlock our untapped power—reimagining our work by using narrative and culture as catalysts for systemic change. I look forward to working alongside our incredible staff, our board of directors, our tenant leaders, state and tribal partners, and all our national, state, and local allies. Together, we will continue to push for bold and lasting solutions to the housing crisis.”
