Affordable Housing
Breakout Session 2024
Develop a roadmap to help address the affordable housing crisis in Boston. This work is crucial to ensure that all residents have access to safe and stable living conditions.
What to Expect:
This session will provide a comprehensive overview of how churches can engage in addressing the housing crisis. In the morning session, attendees will explore various approaches to affordable housing, featuring a detailed case study on Kurt Lange’s project, which transformed underutilized church space into affordable housing units. In the afternoon, participants will join interactive breakout groups led by experts in areas such as real estate, development, advocacy, legal considerations, and rent-to-own models. These sessions will equip attendees with practical insights, case studies, and actionable steps for getting involved in affordable housing initiatives. Expect a hands-on, collaborative environment focused on innovative solutions tailored to faith communities.
Meet the Speakers!
Gabriele Geller
Gabriele is a seasoned affordable housing professional with
extensive experience across government, nonprofit, and
consulting sectors. Originally from Philadelphia, she has worked
for city government, a Methodist church-based development
group, and New York City’s housing agency. After moving to
Massachusetts, she spent a decade with the Women's Institute for Housing and Economic Development before launching her own consulting firm in 2022. Her clients include state organizations, nonprofits, and the Resettlement Partnership, which focuses on housing for displaced persons through faith-based and refugee organizations.
Jin Min Lee
Jin Min Lee, born in Seoul and immigrating to the U.S. in the 1980s, has spent much of her life in Boston. A Wellesley College graduate, her career has focused on community and faith-based nonprofit work, beginning in legal aid and youth development. She later transitioned to consulting and teaching, with roles including Mission Hub Director for the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Currently, she leads the Homeownership and Counseling Program at Allston Brighton CDC and consults on race, equity, and inclusion. Jin Min is passionate about bridging communities and addressing systemic injustice with compassion and courage.
Kurt Lange
Kurt is the pastor of East Coast International Church in Lynn, which he founded 23 years ago. He also started The Haven Project, the only organization north of Boston focused on case managing homeless young adults aged 17-24. In response to the need for housing, the church is currently developing 48 affordable housing units, including 24 micro-units within their church building. They are also renovating a former "crack house" into 8 transitional units and are working to secure rapid rehousing options, potentially acting as landlords themselves. The church has been involved in affordable housing efforts for about 20 years.
Michael Robbins
Michael Robbins is an experienced attorney with a robust background in the legal services industry. He specializes in negotiation, arbitration, real property, and real estate transactions, particularly focusing on investment properties. A graduate of Suffolk University Law School, Michael is dedicated to providing exceptional legal counsel. He practices at Crowley & Cummings, LLC, while residing in Dedham, Massachusetts.
Phil Jones
Phil is from First Church in Cambridge and is active with the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO), a power-building group with around 60 member institutions, including churches, temples, mosques, and secular groups. GBIO focuses on organizing to address systemic issues, with past campaigns around the Affordable Care Act and mandatory minimum sentences. Recently, housing has become a key focus, and their latest campaign secured $2.2 billion for rehabilitating state-owned public housing. Phil met Devlin during a zoning battle in Newton, which, though unsuccessful, sparked their alliance.
Devlin Scott
Devlin is the Managing Director at Unite Boston and a pastor at
New City Church in Newton. He is a key organizer for Boston
Flourish and is leading the breakout session on affordable housing alongside Jason Adams. Devlin has been actively involved in affordable housing efforts, facilitating discussions and collaborations. His church aspires to follow in the footsteps of Kurt Lange's church by developing affordable housing on their
property, with guidance from Gabrielle Geller on financial planning. Devlin aims to use Boston Flourish to mobilize the Christian community in Boston to address housing challenges.
Jason Adams
Jason has been in residential real estate for nearly 11 years and is
in his third year co-leading Boston Flourish. He partners with the
Austin Brighton CDC to assist first-time homebuyers and works
with the Boston Housing Authority to help low-income residents
transition from renting to homeownership. Though the real estate industry often focuses on high-priced housing, Jason, a long-time member of Church of the Cross, is a Christian committed to affordable housing. He provides guidance to those in need and seeks to collaborate with others passionate about affordable housing.