HOC Staff Circle Chelsea

Chelsea Andrews is the President / Executive Director of the Housing Opportunities Commission. Ms. Andrews joined the Commission in July 2022.
 
Ms. Andrews has worked as a visionary thought leader and strategic executive for over 15 years in both large-scale operations and legal fields for mission-based organizations. Prior to having the privilege of serving as the Executive Director of Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) she led agencies in both the homeless and affordable housing sectors, with the goal of being a bridge builder and community transformer. Most recently she served as the Executive Director of EveryOne Home, a ‘collective impact initiative’ and HUD designated Continuum of Care bringing together key stakeholders representing Alameda County and 14 cities (including Oakland and Berkeley) to prevent and end homelessness for the nearly 10,000 individuals experiencing homelessness. 
 
Prior to that time, Ms. Andrews served as the Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the District of Columbia Housing Authority, with a portfolio of 8,500 public housing units, 13,000 vouchers, budget of $400M+ and approximately 900 staff and 40,000 clients. She is an advocate for ending homelessness, preserving and creating affordable housing, social justice and strengthening communities. She attended Florida A & M University earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, in Business Administration and obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from The George Washington University Law School.

Ms. Andrews has worked for several Fortune 500 companies and served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, MD. She is admitted to practice in the Maryland State Bar, District of Columbia Bar, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Ms. Andrews was appointed to the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee by Montgomery County Executive in 2018 and subsequently reappointed and was elected Chair for the 2020-2021 term. Ms. Andrews curated a course on the Impact of Housing Segregation on the Black Community and was an Adjunct Lecturer for the University of Maryland College Park School of Policy. She is a member of the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and served as an At-Large member on the Executive Board for the Mid-Atlantic Region Council and the Bylaws Committee.

Ms. Andrews was the Co-Founder of a Housing Equity Task Force advocating for policy reform to address the impact of systemic and structural racial segregation in housing. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and enjoys spending time with her daughter, Zola, and volunteering in her hometown of Wheaton, Maryland.