Fabiola Brunache

Fabiola Brunache joined SWAPs Board of Directors as a community member in 2019.  

As a real estate broker, she says she saw firsthand how the working class was being priced out of the market – making it harder and harder for everyday people to find a place they can truly call home.

On an invite from SWAP’s Executive Director Carla DeStefano, Fabiola attended one of SWAP’s meetings and  “…once I did my research, I was blown away by the impact SWAP had -- the programs, the resources, and most importantly, the fact that they’re actually putting people into homes. That’s what made me want to be involved.”

She recounts the experience  of a woman who purchased a multi-family home through SWAP., “She told me, if  it wasn’t for SWAP, she never would’ve been able to buy her first home. Now she’s in a better financial position and has sold that same home to another family — continuing the cycle of opportunity. That’s the type of generational impact I see when we talk about SWAP’s work.”

Moving forward Fabiola says we need to continue to be solution- oriented including: developing smaller-square-footage homes to increase inventory, encouraging homeowners with extra lots to consider building ADUs, and continuing to expand pathways to affordable homeownership.

”When we combine innovation, affordability, and accessibility, we create real solutions that keep Rhode Island families rooted and thriving.”

Q and A

How did you become interested in working to address the housing crisis and begin working with SWAP?

As a real estate broker, I see firsthand how the working class is being priced out of the market — it’s becoming harder and harder for everyday people to find a place they can truly call home.

Honestly, I didn’t know much about SWAP at first. Carla and I serve on a board together, and we started talking about housing. As a real estate broker, I see firsthand how the working class is being priced out of the market — it’s becoming harder and harder for everyday people to find a place they can truly call home.

Carla invited me to attend one of SWAP’s meetings, and once I did my research, I was blown away by the impact they’ve made — the programs, the resources, and most importantly, the fact that they’re actually putting people into homes. That’s what made me want to be involved.

Thoughts on how SWAP has made a difference in housing and revitalizing neighborhoods over the past 50 years

I’ve personally worked with a client who purchased a multi-family home through SWAP. She told me, “If it wasn’t for SWAP, I never would’ve been able to buy my first home.” That experience stuck with me because it showed how transformative their work really is.

Now she’s in a better financial position and has sold that same home to another family — continuing the cycle of opportunity. That’s the type of generational impact I see when we talk about SWAP’s work during our board meetings.

The role of SWAP and other CDCs in addressing today’s housing crisis

To me, the next chapter in solving Rhode Island’s housing crisis means thinking creatively and building smarter. That includes developing smaller-square-footage homes to increase inventory, encouraging homeowners with extra lots to consider building ADUs, and continuing to expand pathways to affordable homeownership.

SWAP and other CDCs play a vital role  not just building houses, but building communities. When we combine innovation, affordability, and accessibility, we create real solutions that keep Rhode Island families rooted and thriving.