Episode 12 - "Philanthropy & Housing" w/ Funders for Housing and Opportunity

Opportunity Starts at Home

The philanthropic community is increasingly focused on safe, decent, affordable housing as a cornerstone for progress in a variety of other areas. The Funders for Housing and Opportunity (FHO) is one of the nation’s most prominent examples of this. In this episode, we talk to Susan Thomas and Jeanne Fekade-Sellassie. Susan Thomas is the Chair of the FHO collaborative and the Senior Program Officer for Melville Charitable Trust. Jeanne Fekade-Sellassie is the Project Director of FHO. FHO is a philanthropic collaborative committed to better life outcomes for the millions of Americans that lack stable housing. FHO has brought together some of country’s leading foundations: Annie E. Casey Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, JPB Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Melville Charitable Trust, Oak Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Trinity Church Wall Street. Susan and Jeanne discuss how and why FHO got started, why it focuses on rental housing for the lowest-income people, where it is headed in the future, its funding strategies, and the broader philanthropic community’s involvement in tackling poverty. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary