Homes Within Reach 2024- Frontline Leader Award
Congratulations to the 2024 Frontline Leader Award Winners!
We’re excited to announce the Frontline Leader Award Winners for 2024. Our selection committee has recognized three winners for 2024. The winners will be presented with their award during the Opening Night dinner at the Homes Within Reach Conference.
Please take a moment to read about their work and cheer them on when you see them at the conference.
Jala Rucker, Education Outreach Manager at RentHelpPGH
Jala was nominated by Dave Breingan, Executive Director at Lawrenceville United; Robert Damewood, Staff Attorney at Regional Housing Legal Services; and Kyla Rollins, Communications Director at Pennsylvania United.
Brief Background: Jala is a key individual who is leading the charge in Pittsburgh’s housing justice movement. Housing is at the top of everyone’s minds, and with Jala’s leadership, the Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table is seriously moving on many of the issues that would make a systemic impact: tenant protections and rights, reforming the Housing Authority, and expanding the supply of public and affordable housing.
Jala has lived experience as she helped organize her neighbors to prevent the private sale of the housing she was living in. She successfully worked to keep the unit as public housing in order to avoid the displacement of her and her neighbors. In her role at RentHelpPGH, Jala helped people facing eviction to navigate the process, access rent/utility assistance, direct people to mediation and legal assistance, and currently attends eviction hearings to be an advocate for the tenant when a lawyer is not available.
Yvonne Hughes, Community Outreach Coordinator at SCOPE and It’s Not Your Fault
Yvonne was nominated by Kathy Czapp, Community Liaison at TruVine HomeCare; Ted Hewson, Facilitator at Community Connections Collaborative; Jeffrey Gehris, Associate Professor at College of Public Health, Temple University; Jean Kirkley, CEO at Boomers ‘R Heroes Caregivers Support Group; and Melody McBride, Admin Assistant at Veterans Concerned Group.
Brief Background: She is an advocate for the homeless and underserved as well as the visually impaired and senior citizens.
Yvonne is one of Philadelphia’s foremost champions for people with disabilities, in recovery, needing shelter, who are hungry, and seeking better educational opportunities. Living as a sight-impaired person for over 40 years, she knows the challenges those with disabilities face in Philadelphia in terms of accessing educational resources and opportunities. She is excellent at listening and building rapport with those she helps–she can relate to the challenges they face. As a leader, she strives to prepare those she helps to be self-advocates and to advocate for others. Ultimately, Yvonne is helping develop the next generation of frontline leaders.
Rebecca Dunkelberge, Housing Case Manager at Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc. (CSO) – Rebeccawas nominated by Stacie Snyder, Community Action Agency Administrator at Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc. (CSO).
Brief Background: Rebecca serves Northumberland County which is a rural county with 12.4% of the population living below the poverty line (10.7% higher than PA’s rate). The city that she primarily serves is 35.9%, which is more than double the county’s rate. The lack of affordable housing options coupled with a growing number of evictions is creating significant housing challenges. Emergency shelters are often full, and hotels are limited. There is no public transportation. Rebecca is in the trenches every day helping people with their emergency housing needs. She develops strong relationships with her clients who directly received services from her and landlords who are willing to give her clients a chance at safe and affordable housing.