The Housing Development Consortium (HDC) recently announced that Patience Malaba has been selected as the next executive director of the organization. Made up of a small but passionate staff and board of directors, HDC is a leading voice for affordable housing, that works tirelessly towards a vision where King County is affordable, accessible, and inclusive to all.
A powerful advocate for affordable homes and equitable communities, Malaba’s efforts have advanced cross-sector partnerships that result in equitable access to affordable housing. She has been recognized for her leadership in addressing the intersecting crises of affordable housing, racial equity, and climate change and was the 2020 Bullitt Foundation Environmental Fellowship awardee. With a demonstrated commitment to housing access, equity, and community, officials at HDC believe that Malaba is the ideal person to lead them in their efforts to create affordable housing for all people in King County.
“After considering multiple finalists, it was clear to the Board that Patience was the candidate who will continue HDC’s tradition of excellent member services and advocacy while also leading us in new ways of improving equity and serving community,” said HDC Board Chair Brian Lloyd. “She is ideally qualified and positioned to hit the ground running. From her birthplace in a Zimbabwe village to her leadership in our Seattle community, Patience has an inspiring personal story and a commitment to justice that fits our future work.”
“I am honored and excited to lead HDC as we continue our mission to build, sustain, and inspire a diverse network committed to producing, preserving, and increasing equitable access to affordable homes,” says Malaba. “The work of HDC has never been more vital. At this distinctive moment in time, the urgency of the exacerbated affordable housing crisis is combined with a growing climate crisis and the disturbing reality of persisting systemic inequities that call for bold action. Our unique and timely strategic plan is molded for such a time, to advance systemic change for an equitable future. HDC has been the backbone and glue for the housing community over the last 34 years and I’m eager to continue in that tradition while also growing our impact in an ever-changing environment.”
The HDC was founded in 1988 by 10 non-profit housing providers. Today, they support the 5500+ member staff of their member organizations, of all ethnicities, through their diverse menu of member offerings, they in turn support and house limited-income individuals and families across the county at 80% average minimum income (AMI) and below.
Coming from a small village in Zimbabwe where community equity was something her elders preached as she witnessed the hard work ethic and community inclusion and prosperity was exercised, Malaba migrated to the Pacific Northwest seven years ago bringing that same commitment and belief that every human being has the right to affordable, clean and safe living conditions.
“My grandparent took care of me and my brother and my eleven cousins,” says Malaba. “It was from them that I acquired this value of community, the value of work ethic at a very formidable stage of my life. As I watched the sheer hard work that they put in the community, refusing to allow inequitable distribution of economic benefits in our community.”
