Staff & Board

Ellen Sahli is president of Family Housing Fund and uses her deep housing experience to advance comprehensive housing solutions regionally. Prior to joining FHFund, Ellen served in housing leadership positions for the City of Chicago, including developing the nationally recognized Chicago Neighborhood Stabilization Program, cutting edge foreclosure prevention strategies, and innovative multi-family preservation programs. Under her leadership, the Chicago Low Income Housing Trust—the largest locally funded rent subsidy program in the country—grew into a sophisticated organization, doubling both financial resources and the number of families assisted. At the Chicago Housing Authority, she directed the operating departments, ensuring quality, affordable housing and targeting social services for the more than 55,000 households receiving housing assistance. Ellen holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois – Chicago and a bachelor’s in social work from the College of St. Teresa in Winona. In 2019, she was named the Janice Nittoli Fellow at the Urban Institute. 

Miko Salone is the director of operations, bringing over 30 years of administrative experience to the job. She works closely with the president, is a member of the management team and finance team, manages human resources, manages technology, serves as secretary to the board of directors and a member of the finance committee, and oversees the homeownership programs, among many duties. Having joined Family Housing Fund in 2000, she has held multiple roles during her tenure including administrative assistant, office administrator, office manager, and office manager and executive assistant. Miko graduated from the Minnesota School of Business with a major in office technology and certification as a business systems specialist. She also holds an associate degree in business administration and management from North Hennepin Community College, graduating with Phi Theta Kappa Honors, Honor Society recognition, and a professional certification in small business accounting.

Kirstin Burch is the program director at the Family Housing Fund, where she leads program strategy and oversees implementation of strategic initiatives to achieve the program goals. Prior to joining the Family Housing Fund, Kirstin led housing work in both the local government and nonprofit sectors, serving most recently as the Fair Housing Coordinator for the City of Saint Paul. Kirstin is passionate about holistic, community-driven solutions to housing stability, bringing experience in nonprofit leadership, culturally inclusive relationship building, and community engagement with a focus on equity, accountability, and results. Kirstin holds a bachelor’s degree in Individualized Studies with a focus on Culturally Inclusive Approaches to Economic Advocacy and Leadership from Metropolitan State University as well as a Leadership in Affordable Housing Certificate from Hamline University. Kirstin is a native of Saint Paul’s Frogtown, currently residing in Ward 6 with her three children.

Eric Gustafson is a program officer at the Family Housing Fund, where he collaborates with renter communities, the rental housing industry, local government, and many others. In this role, he leads work to ensure homes in the region are safe and healthy while also reducing involuntary moves and displacement. He also works to improve the accuracy and fairness of tenant selection systems while helping applicants improve their ability to secure quality affordable housing. Additionally, Eric leads efforts to expand access to homes for households using rental subsidies. Prior to joining FHFund, he spent five years in engineering and architecture, and then 12 years in community development as an executive director and neighborhood organizer achieving policy and built environment outcomes in affordable housing, land use and transportation, local food systems, and economic development. Eric holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from North Dakota State University and a Master of Public Affairs from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

Sarah Berke is a program officer at the Family Housing Fund, focused on strategies to build and preserve affordable housing across region. In this role, she leads systems change initiatives to increase the supply of all types of affordable housing in the Twin Cities and is the primary contact for FHFund’s multifamily loan portfolio. Sarah has more than fifteen years of experience in affordable housing, social enterprise, and community development finance, including as director of strategic partnerships at the Minnesota Housing Partnership and director of research and development for the national Housing Partnership Network’s Innovation Lab. She holds a Master of Public Affairs from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, a bachelor of arts in Russian and political science from St. Olaf College, and is an alumna of the U.S. Fulbright Program in Russia. Sarah serves on the board of Northcountry Cooperative Foundation, which supports resident ownership in manufactured home communities in the Upper Midwest. She also sings and dances with The Museum of Russian Art’s Nitka Russian folk group.

Karyssa Scheck is a development and communications officer at the Family Housing Fund, where she leads fundraising and communications efforts and supports program development. Prior to joining FHFund, she interned in a Congressional office in Washington, D.C., providing communications, research, and administrative support to legislative aides. Karyssa holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris, where she studied political science.