Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania

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The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania

About: Staff

Elizabeth G . Hersh	Main Office	Executive Director
	Liz Hersh is a professional social worker with a master's degree from the University of Chicago. Over the course of a varied 25-year career in Human Services, she has served as Bureau Chief of the Illinois Department of Public AID, the Executive Director of the Tenants Action Group of Philadelphia, and the Executive Director of the Blueprint to End Homelessness in Philadelphia. She created and administered a successful volunteer program at Jobs for Youth/Chicago. She has provided management consulting to numerous non-profit organizations, has worked in youth employment in a housing project and provided basic services to migrant farm workers in Wisconsin. A native Pennsylvanian, Ms. Hersh travels the state extensively to better understand the range of issues and build an effective advocacy network for the Housing Alliance. Under her leadership, the Housing Alliance has doubled its membership base and budget, while becoming a well-respected source for expert information on housing policy, not only in Pennsylvania, but nationally as well. The Alliance has published several important works on reclaiming vacant property, addressing community opposition to workforce housing and understanding the housing needs of our communities, which have resulted in new state legislation, funding and programs.
		liz@housingalliancepa.org

Cynthia W. Daley	Harrisburg Office	Policy Director
	Cindy Daley's work for the Housing Alliance is complemented by her role as attorney to Regional Housing Legal Services, where, since 1986, she has provided legal and technical advice to non-profit corporations developing low income housing and other community revitalization projects. Her responsibilities there include the PA Housing Law Project and the HEMAP Help Center. Ms. Daley has also served as a Home Ownership Coordinator for Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services, and a Mortgage Processor for Home Unity Savings and Loan. At the Housing Alliance, she focuses on advocacy through legislation, writing and public speaking. Ms. Daley graduated Cum Laude from Temple University School of Law.
		cindy@housingalliancepa.org

Joanna Deming	Pittsburgh Office	Statewide Housing Organizer
	Joanna joined our staff at the start of 2008 and works out of our Pittsburgh Office. Before joining our staff, Joanna worked as a community organizer and spent several years doing non-profit administration, while showing a dedication to her community. She served as Vice President for the Board of Directors of her neighborhood CDC and co-started a community coffee shop (Beleza) in hopes of building social capital. In 2005, Beleza received a Proclamation from Pittsburgh’s City Counsel honoring their work and commitment to the City of Pittsburgh. In 2006, Joanna received Pittsburgh’s 40 Under 40 Award, sponsored by PITTSBURGH magazine and Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project, given to recognize 40 people under the age of 40 who are committed to shaping the Pittsburgh region and making it a better place for everyone. Joanna has a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Hope College and a Master’s in Social Work from University of Pennsylvania, where she focused on social policy, administration, and community organizing.
		Joanna@housingalliancepa.org