Email Cheryl: cbrandberg@chshousing.org

Meet Cheryl Brandberg

Community Housing Solutions

Describe your organization and its mission:

Community Housing Solutions’ (CHS) mission is to provide decent, safe and affordable housing to low-income households working towards the elimination of substandard housing restoring the dignity and hope to families living in Guilford County neighborhoods. CHS is a local nonprofit organization that has repaired more than 1,000 homes investing over $9.5 million in preserving affordable housing for low-income homeowners since our inception in 2002. Our vision is to make homes warmer, drier and safer for low-income families using proven models that address their immediate housing need and empower them by lowering costs.

Why do you love working for your organization?

I love working for Community Housing Solutions because of the tangible impact we have on people in our community on a daily basis. I think of homeowners like Mrs. Blackwell and Mr. Ewing who needed repairs on their homes but physically and financially could not do the work. Our repairs empower homeowners by making their homes warmer, drier and safer. In many instances, these repairs allow older adults to remain in their homes safely. The words of Madeline Reed, a homeowner who benefited from our repairs, best explain why I am passionate about the work we do:

"I am now free to safely come and go from my home. I have a secure handrail and steps that are the right size. I have a secure floor on that little porch. Now I can get back to doing my grocery shopping and taking out my own garbage. But the greatest gift that it has given me is my freedom, and that means my independence. At the end of the bathroom repairs, which were a shower chair and grab bars, I went to take a shower for the first time. When I got out I noticed that I had been in there for 30 minutes. The reason I was in there for so long is that I was sitting on the shower chair crying. I know that sounds mushy, but what was causing me to cry was the realization that this was the first time in ten years that I was able to shampoo and shower using both hands and not just one hand because I was no longer grabbing for the wall. I felt safe and secure and that has made all the difference in the world. This kind of help, what it does, it allows you to give back. It allows you to be a productive member of the community of Greensboro."

I come to work every day to make stories like Madeline's a reality for the many others in Greensboro in need of help.

What does being a member of the Future Fund Class of 2020 mean to your organization?

Community Housing Solutions is excited to be a part of the FF Class of 2020. We are excited to share our mission and impact with more people in our community. While we help 150 homeowners a year, there are so many more in need of help. Being a member of the FF Class will help us to grow our impact by enlisting the help of additional volunteers and donors.

What do you expect to gain from the Future Fund 10 experience?

I expect to gain coaching that will improve my public speaking and confidence in front of a group. I also hope to develop relationships with mentors and peers that will help me best share Community Housing Solutions' mission and impact. I hope to grow both personally and professionally through this experience. In the end, I hope that what I learn will allow me to better share about CHS and how our community can get involved to help more neighbors in need.

What are you most nervous about with the FF 10 process?

I am most nervous about the April 21st pitch at the Carolina Theatre. I am not a great public speaker so hoping to gain some skills and confidence in that area.

When you're not working, where could we find you?

When not working, I love to be outdoors - hiking, walking or working in the yard. I am an avid college sports fan cheering for UVA (my alma mater), UNC (my oldest son's alma mater), and Clemson (my daughter's current school). We will add a fourth college to the mix this fall when my youngest leaves the "nest" for his next chapter.

My husband and I also love to travel and spend time with friends. Most Friday and Saturday evenings, we can be found hanging out with friends wherever there is live music in Greensboro.