Board Member Spotlight: Aarica Coleman

Tell us about your background and why you care about expanding housing opportunities.

Right now, I work as the Authority Administrator for Bloomington’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority, but I’ve been in real estate for over 25 years. When I got a job for a property manager for an affordable housing complex in 2014, I learned more about this work and asked myself, “Who is making these rules and decisions on what’s affordable?” That question is my whole driving force within expanding housing opportunities. I believe and know that a big issue is that the average person does not have the information about housing. Yet, they are living and navigating it every single day. Housing is a basic human right, but it’s not treated as such.

Why were you interested in serving on the Family Housing Fund board?

Coincidentally, I was actually engaging in some work that Family Housing Fund was also working on. There were these key people coming into meetings with all sorts of knowledge and data, and it was the Family Housing Fund doing that! Partnered with my zest for advocacy, but also doing right by people, I knew I wanted to serve on the Family Housing Fund board to be a contributor and learner.

What housing aspirations do you have for the region?

Decent, dignified housing being viewed and treated as a basic human right.

What is one area where you think people generally fail to think big enough – and what is your vision for change?

People can tend to fail to think big enough in government. Not enough people avail themselves of the knowledge of the regulations. But also there’s so many people in government who are shifting and changing things!  Get creative. Think outside the box. Don’t be restricted by fear or things we’ve done in the past.

What do you do for fun?

I spend time with friends and family. I like to travel, and I like to relax. It’s also fun for me to advocate for housing, bring people with me, and educate them.