Nancy Howard

Nancy Howard joined SWAP’s Board in 2023 bringing over 16 years of experience at RI LISC as a Senior Program Officer where she led the local building sustainability program and worked setting up programs to help families attain long-term financial security.

“SWAP was one of the first CDCs I encountered when I started work for LISC in 2004. I remember when I asked a colleague how to recognize a SWAP house they said look for the window boxes and they are still as beautiful today. After I retired, I still wanted to have an impact in the community. SWAP is an organization I support and admire so accepting an invitation to join the board was an honor,” Howard says. “From creating an innovative homesteading program in the beginning to building 2 -family owner/ rental housing, SWAP has revitalized neighborhoods without gentrification. The residents who live in the neighborhood get to stay in the neighborhood and enjoy quality housing.”

As to priorities for the next 50 years Howard says:

• Creating housing for all,
• Defining affordability - making sure folks on the lower economic end can afford quality housing
• Working with local and state officials to make the process of acquiring and building affordable housing more streamlined and easier
• Pushing the powers that be to create the necessary funds to make this happen

Q and A

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

From creating an innovative homesteading program in the beginning to building 2 -famliy owner/ rental housing, SWAP has revitalized neighborhoods without gentrification. The residents who live in the neighborhood get to stay in the neighborhood and enjoy quality housing.  Throughout its 50 years SWAP has restored and built new affordable apartments, houses and commercial space. SWAP has transformed the neighborhoods where they work.

Community housing development has evolved over the past 50 years – but we find ourselves in a housing crisis.  What do you see as the role for SWAP and other CDC’s in finding solutions to create more housing in RI?  

Creating housing for all, defining affordability and making sure folks on the lower economic end are able to afford quality housing. Working with local and state officials to make the process of acquiring and building affordable housing more streamlined and easier. We need to pushing the powers that be to create the necessary fund to make this happen.