Turtle on a Fence Post

Hello Housers, I’m Sean Gilbert, your NAHRO President for the 2025-2027 term and Executive Director of Tennessee Valley Housing Services. 

Like the turtle in this column’s title, I didn’t get here on my own. I’m grateful to every individual who brought me into NAHRO and helped me grow as a person, a houser and a leader: NAHRO members nationwide, the Tennessee Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, SERC NAHRO, and leaders and friends like outgoing President George Guy and Senior Vice President Ivory Mathews.

I’m grateful for the hard work and support of the NAHRO staff, the folks on my campaign team, my TVHS staff and board, and of course my supportive family. Thank you for all you’ve done to get me on this fence post. I won’t let you down. 

I wish there was a better way to start this 2025-2027 leadership term than with a government shutdown. As housers, we provide vital homes and services to our communities, and our work doesn’t stop just because the Federal government is closed. 

The NAHRO team’s been working hard to give us the information and resources we need to continue operating through the shutdown. If you have questions about fund disbursement or whether inspections are still happening, NAHRO’s got a shutdown webpage full of information and resources, including HUD’s contingency plans and a recording of the October 2 emergency shutdown webinar. The NAHRO staff are also keeping us informed in the Direct News emails, including a shutdown-focused update every Thursday, and articles like this one confirming voucher funding for November and December, on the NAHRO website. You can also reach out to NAHRO’s Policy and Legislative Affairs team with any other questions.  

If you want to tell your elected officials that we need them to reopen the government, NAHRO’s got a letter in the Action Alert Center that you can customize and send in a minute or two. We’re also aware of legal action that some PHAs are taking regarding new requirements for operating fund subsidy. We’re also aware of legal action that some PHAs are taking regarding new requirements for operating fund subsidy — you can find more details in this article.

Why We Do This Work 

We all came to housing in different ways, for a variety of reasons. What unites us all is the knowledge that safe, stable and affordable housing improves lives, opportunities, and outcomes. At last month’s NAHRO National Conference in Phoenix, I met two smart, hardworking and accomplished young people who are living proof of this: NAHRO LDG scholars Tyzhae and Alison. In his speech, Tyzhae shared some of his accomplishments, including being the first male valedictorian in his high school. His discipline and determination inspired me. In her speech, Alison thanked NAHRO and its members, her family and friends — and the hotel and convention center staff. Her graciousness and ability to see EVERYONE in the room, including those who are often invisible, inspired me. 

Who are some of the people who inspire you? Let me know at president@nahro.org. You’ll hear more from me soon about some of my priorities for the next two years. Until then, stay well. 

“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind” – Lionel Hampton