Gabriela Roman, Mupp Email & Phone Number

United States

Chicago, Illinois, United States

HUD’s Illinois Office of Community Planning and Development manages close to one billion dollars in entitlement and competitive grants in the state of Illinois.Portfolio includes entitlements Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG).Competitive grants include a wide range of homeless prevention programs under the competitive Continuum of Care (CoC) such as Permanent Housing, Transitional Housing, Rapid… Show more HUD’s Illinois Office of Community Planning and Development manages close to one billion dollars in entitlement and competitive grants in the state of Illinois.Portfolio includes entitlements Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG).Competitive grants include a wide range of homeless prevention programs under the competitive Continuum of Care (CoC) such as Permanent Housing, Transitional Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and bonus Domestic Violence housing programs.Newer funding includes CDBG-CV grants to prepare, prevent, and respond to the coronavirus under the CARES Act. In 2021, new programs are being added as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Show less

Led all aspects of Spanish Coalition for Housing’s (SCH) operations, including management of nearly 30 employees and three offices. SCH is an award-winning non-profit working towards equity and wealth building through housing, homeownership, and financial counseling, education, and services. SCH served over 11,000 clients in 2019.Under my leadership, SCH became the top producing housing counseling agency in Illinois including: • Awarded the Illinois Housing Counseling Agency in… Show more Led all aspects of Spanish Coalition for Housing’s (SCH) operations, including management of nearly 30 employees and three offices. SCH is an award-winning non-profit working towards equity and wealth building through housing, homeownership, and financial counseling, education, and services. SCH served over 11,000 clients in 2019.Under my leadership, SCH became the top producing housing counseling agency in Illinois including: • Awarded the Illinois Housing Counseling Agency in 2018.• Led the foreclosure recovery efforts by providing housing counseling to more than 24,000 families.• Relaunched the signature home buyer fair “Camino A Su Casa”, bringing together 30+ home buying partners and attracting 350+ home seekers. Home buying program delivered 72 workshops, educated 1,100 families and produced 200 new home buyers in 2019.• Added telefonic housing counseling and online home buyer education platform to increase efficiencies and remove barriers to access programs.• Brought organization into compliance with new Dodd-Frank regulation for housing counseling nine months ahead of deadline.• Became a partner with the Chicago Housing Authority in the CHA Community Alliance diversity outreach program to help underserved families access affordable rentals. Over three year contract hosted 573 workshops reaching over 3,500 households and awarded a new contract in 2020.• Secured $1.5 million from the 2019 Illinois Capital Bill to purchase and rehab two properties to house current offices and update main facilities.• Led organizational infrastructure improvement initiatives including personnel policies, organizational chart, job descriptions, financial policies, board handbook, annual and quarterly performance review systems, strategic plan, and annual work plan.• Grew operating reserves to approximately 8 months of budget; exceeding industry average. Show less

Successfully led Spanish Coalition for Housing's three offices and employees during an important transition in the company's history by bringing together employees, funders and key stakeholders. Developed annual organizational plan and set departmental/ employee production goals in alignment with grant and contract requirements.

• Raised $3.5 million annual budget through the execution of diverse funding strategies and strategic partnerships including expanding financial literacy program, adding resources for homeless prevention, and expanding relationships with partners promoting homeownership.• Identified and cultivated relationships with new funders including government, foundations, corporations and individuals.• Supervised development department staff to ensure deadlines were met and contracts were in… Show more • Raised $3.5 million annual budget through the execution of diverse funding strategies and strategic partnerships including expanding financial literacy program, adding resources for homeless prevention, and expanding relationships with partners promoting homeownership.• Identified and cultivated relationships with new funders including government, foundations, corporations and individuals.• Supervised development department staff to ensure deadlines were met and contracts were in full compliance with private and government funders including HUD housing counseling, NFMC, CDBG, ESG, and FEMA programs.• Collected and analyze data regarding the organization’s performance and prepared and presented reports to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director, and funders.• Helped increase the profile of the organization through marketing and relationship building. Show less

• Member of the leadership team and lead in absence of Executive Director.• Developed and implemented organizational marketing plan including adding social media presence, creating stakeholder database and electronic newsletters.• Developed and carried out organizational fundraising plan including creating foreclosure prevention program, creating domestic violence rental assistance program, expanding home repair programs and expanding homeless prevention programs.• Assisted… Show more • Member of the leadership team and lead in absence of Executive Director.• Developed and implemented organizational marketing plan including adding social media presence, creating stakeholder database and electronic newsletters.• Developed and carried out organizational fundraising plan including creating foreclosure prevention program, creating domestic violence rental assistance program, expanding home repair programs and expanding homeless prevention programs.• Assisted volunteer and board members in planning and implementing fundraising activities.• Prepared reports to foundation, corporation and government funding sources to maintain them inform of progress and of the uses of grants • Wrote grant applications and reported program outcomes and finances to comply with CDBG, HOME, NSP, FEMA, DOJ OVW, and Continuum of Care programs.• Assisted affordable housing development team in portions of tax credit applications and other financing activities.• Created new projects and programs based on community demographics and trends such as launching the Freddie Mac Borrower Help Center in response to the foreclosure crisis. Show less

• Managed programs and supervised staff in the areas of housing, economic development, employment, education, youth services, faith-based initiatives and administration. • Project and program management including developing timelines, setting priorities, developing budgets and monitoring progress.• Created new programs in housing and business development including becoming a delegate agency for Department of Housing and the Department of Planning and Development CDBG programs.•… Show more • Managed programs and supervised staff in the areas of housing, economic development, employment, education, youth services, faith-based initiatives and administration. • Project and program management including developing timelines, setting priorities, developing budgets and monitoring progress.• Created new programs in housing and business development including becoming a delegate agency for Department of Housing and the Department of Planning and Development CDBG programs.• Conducted resource development and fundraising with progressive responsibilities, as a result agency annual budget increased from $100,000 to $1 million.•Coordinated community application to the HUD Empowerment Zone Round 2 competition. Show less

Began community development career in industry-leading organization by conducting research for the acquisition of vacant lots for the New Homes for Chicago program in Pilsen. Assisted newly formed Economic Development department in fundraising research and small businesses needs analysis.