Background
Samantha DeKoven focuses on MPC's employer-assisted housing initiative, helping design and implement customized employer programs in the Chicago region as well as providing technical assistance to help organizations, companies, and local governments across the country with employer-assisted housing. She advocates for policies that promote workforce housing solutions linked to jobs and transportation options. She helped successfully advance EAH legislation in Illinois and Nevada, and has been a panelist, moderator, or speaker on employer-assisted housing at conferences nationwide.
Prior to her current role, Samantha worked with employers in the Chicago region to develop, execute and evaluate EAH programs. She convened a collaborative of nonprofit housing counseling organizations to partner with these employers and administer their housing programs, engaged employers as advocates for housing policy and production, and worked with Illinois’ housing finance agency to establish state matching funds and tax credits for employer-assisted housing investments.
Samantha came to MPC in 1999 as project manager for the Regional Rental Market Analysis, which measured the rental housing market in northeastern Illinois. Prior to MPC, she worked on community development and reinvestment issues at the Woodstock Institute. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University and attended Harvard University’s Executive Education “Developing Affordable Workforce Housing” program.
Articles
Housing affordability still a challenge-
- The weak housing market – and the massive “shadow” inventory of homes weighing heavily upon it – has given some the idea that homes have become more affordable. But has affording the roof over their head really become easier for most people? I recently attended a panel…
- Employer-Assisted Housing supports livable communities
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- MPC is a strong proponent of the Livable Communities Act and, along with the National Housing Conference, National Association of Realtors and other partners, has proposed minor modifications to include incentives for employer engagement and Employer-Assisted Housing.
Employer-assisted housing is…
Minneapolis workforce housing forum highlights innovative housing solutions-
- On July 12, MPC participated in Bring Workers Home Minneapolis, the second of four regional workforce housing events, which brought together a range of housing advocates, realtors, and others in the field to explore housing challenges and hear innovative solutions. The event featured several great…
- Bring Workers Home: a series of national workforce housing forums
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- Through employer-assisted housing initiatives, employers around the country have discovered the advantage of having their workers living in quality, stable homes near jobs and transportation. Employer-assisted housing is a bottom-line benefit that promotes a stable workforce and strong communities.…
'Affordable living' still elusive for many-
- Two reports released in late March by MPC's partners show there's still more work to do before affordable living is truly within reach for most American families.
The Center for Housing Policy's annual Paycheck to Paycheck study estimated the median home price in Chicago fell from $225,000 in 2008…
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Areas of expertise
- Employer-Assisted Housing
- Housing policy
- Housing and transportation connections
Education
B.A., Anthropology, Princeton University
Executive Education in Affordable Workforce Housing, Harvard University
