Each week on Building Buzz, our host Chris Budihas has the privilege of sitting down with business leaders and influential figures in the construction, structural engineering, land development, and related sectors. Today, Chris speaks with Shannon Nazworth of Ability Housing.
Short company description: Ability Housing is a nationally recognized industry leader and one of very few nonprofits capable of developing high quality affordable, community-inclusive rental housing. We are further recognized for our on-site support services designed to meet the needs of households who have low incomes, disabilities, or experiences with homelessness.
What Is Your Why?:
All of Ability Housing’s work is based upon the core beliefs that:
Everyone should have a home.
Working together creates opportunities and changes lives.
Challenging the status quo creates new ideas and innovative solutions.
Using data and evidence-based practices creates effective and lasting results.
The trust of the people and communities we serve must be earned every day.
How Did You Get Started In Your Field or Work?: Shannon Nazworth is President and CEO of Ability Housing, a position she has held since 2003. She is a seasoned affordable housing professional. In addition to leading Ability Housing, Nazworth is Chair of the State of Florida Council on Homelessness, past president of the Florida Supportive Housing Coalition, and was a gubernatorial appointee to several Florida affordable housing workgroups.
She also serves on many state and national organizations. In 2020, she earned national recognition as Multifamily Executive Magazine’s “Executive of the Year.” Nazworth is a native of Massachusetts, but has resided in Northeast Florida for over 20 years. She has a B.S. in Political Science, having graduated magna cum laude from Boston College; a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Harvard Business School; and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.
What’s One Thing We Should Know That Makes Your Company Unique?: Ability Housing is a nationally recognized industry leader and one of very few nonprofits capable of developing high quality affordable, community-inclusive rental housing.
What Are Your Biggest Goals in the Next 6 to 12 Months for Your Business?:
• Growing the Ability Housing Affordable Housing Fund to $10.2 million to support the creation of new affordable housing in Northeast and Central Florida
• Completing construction on three communities currently in development (one in Jacksonville, one in St. Johns County, and one in St. Petersburg)
