Directors

The volunteer Board of Directors and professional staff of Long Island Housing Services serve as a resource in the field of fair housing to other nonprofit and government agencies, corporations, and individuals.

Ian Wilder, Executive Director

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As the Executive Director of Long Island Housing Services, Inc. (LIHS) since 2018, Ian Wilder has dedicated himself to empowering all Long Islanders to live the American Dream choosing where they want to live without prejudicial constraints. He is Chief Executive Officer, Legislative Liaison, Chief Grant Writer, Senior Counsel, Media Relations Contact, and Development Officer. Long Island Housing Services, which was founded in 1969, is a civil rights 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on fair housing. http://www.LIFairHousing.org

Wilder has been a driving force in advocating for fair housing and overcoming discrimination. Toward that end, he has been one of the most outspoken voices to move to a regional approach to address the affordable housing crisis and away from the failed balkanization of planning.

Wilder’s commitment to housing rights is well-recognized. He has been featured in the City & State magazine Long Island Power 100 list for three consecutive years and was named a Real Estate Power Player by Long Island Press. His advocacy in the media, includes Op-Eds in Newsday and a roadmap for local fair housing advocacy in the Touro Law Review.

Wilder weaves the strands of his persona together in service of LIHS. Being both a three-decade social justice advocate and coming up through the agency equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of both individual client advocacy and systemic change. He is also well-versed in the mechanics of the political systems, having served in numerous positions in a major and minor political party. As a published writer since he was twelve, his work has been printed in local magazines, newspapers, and poetry journals.

Before joining LIHS, Wilder was a local attorney with a focus on real estate issues in Nassau and Suffolk counties for 14 years. His holistic view of housing issues was shaped by working with a wide range of stakeholders, including home buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, realtors, and government officials.

In addition, Wilder has served as a board member for an organic community supported Agriculture farm, The Other Economic Summit-US, a local peace and justice organization, as well as a Board Treasurer of a 212 apartment Co-op and as President of Riverhead Library Board.

Wilder has a J.D. from George Washington University Law School and a from Hofstra University Management B.B.A.

Communications:

No one has ever turned me down for housing


Marian D. Reid, Deputy Director

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Marian D. Reid was appointed Deputy Director as of January 29, 2018.  She has many years of Fair Housing experience with Long Island Housing Services.  She was initially associated with Long Island Housing Services as a client in May 1992 when she reported being a victim of housing discrimination based on her race.  She then began in May 1993 as a volunteer, during which time she was trained as a fair housing tester.

On November 14, 1994, upon successful resolution of her race complaint filed with the Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity Division of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), Reid joined Long Island Housing Services as a full time-employee.

In 1995, six months after working as a Fair Housing Investigator, she was promoted to a supervisory position. In this role, she began to investigate predatory lending practices of Associates Financial Services, Delta Funding Corporation and other unscrupulous lenders.

Reid, a highly dedicated and motivated civil rights advocate, has years of direct relevant experience in investigating and combating mortgage fraud, predatory sales/marketing and lending abuses. Her prior work experience as an Appraisal Supervisor with the Real Estate Loan Servicing Division of TRW Inc. is where she gained experience in analyzing real estate appraisals and noting practices that aroused concerns about racial discrimination in the valuation of homes.

Reid was the Project Manager for Long Island Housing Services’ Fair Housing Initiative Program enforcement grants since 2000, which made her the ideal person in 2001 to manage LIHS’ Fair Housing Department.  In addition to participating in extensive training over the years, Marian is self-taught and her real estate experience beyond fair housing includes home purchasing, post -purchase and mortgage default counseling.

She served as Long Island Housing Services’ lead Testing Coordinator under Phase II of HUD’s 2000 national Housing Discrimination Study.  She also received training from the Department of Justice and National Community Reinvestment Coalition for which she coordinated lending and rental tests.

Reid has extensive experience in conducting, coordinating and analyzing systemic lending, rental, and sales tests.  She has a career record of investigating the most complex fair housing cases on Long Island, helping to file many meritorious complaints on behalf of victims of discrimination, and working with the HUD’s Office of Inspector General and Federal Bureau of Investigation on bank and lending fraud cases.

In 2015, Reid attended Adelphi University’s Leading in Community’s 8 month program.  Leading in Community is a leadership development program that prepares individuals for not-for-profit and community leadership.

Reid was also a former board member of Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (formerly Nassau Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless).  From 1996 – 1998, she was a member of the Federal Reserve Board’s Long Island Home Purchase Process Initiative.  As a Sergeant, she served a total of 13 years with the Army, National Guard and Army Reserves.


Michelle Santantonio, Executive Director Emeritus

michellebio imageAppointed Executive Director in 1999, Santantonio has 39 years of experience in Civil/Human Rights enforcement and advocacy. Specializing in Fair Housing enforcement since joining Long Island Housing Services’ staff in 1990 as the Testing Coordinator, she has directed Long Island Housing Services’ Private Enforcement Program since 1992, has investigated and assisted in filing hundreds of meritorious complaints, recruited and trained nearly 800 volunteer testers, executed more than 25 federal enforcement contracts for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and testing research projects for ERASE Racism, HUD’s 2nd National Housing Discrimination Study and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Under her direction, Long Island Housing Services has undertaken to identify and challenge predatory lending practices, has challenged discriminatory advertising, sought government support to examine potential for regional collaboration of entitlement jurisdictions’ efforts to analyze impediments and affirmatively further Fair Housing. Santantonio has provided Fair Housing education to local government, non-profits and the public, as well as some of LI’s largest real estate and management companies, increased Long Island Housing Services’ staff from 4 ½ to its current staff of 21, including 6 full time Staff Attorneys providing Fair Housing and Foreclosure Prevention services. In 2000, she worked to secure unanimous passage of Nassau’s local Human Rights law amendment to outlaw “Source of Income” and sexual orientation discrimination. Long Island Housing Services has initiated and supported numerous successful, landmark challenges resulting in increased awareness and compliance with Fair Housing laws, affirmative relief for victims, and creation of nearly 1,000 accessible units for people with disabilities and remains a leading force in challenging all forms of illegal housing discrimination.

Executive Director Emerita Michelle Santantonio at the May 2024 Office Warming
Executive Director Emerita Michelle Santantonio at the May 2024 Office Warming

Prior to Long Island Housing Services, she worked for local government for 13 ½ years conducting investigations, assessing claims, and filing complaints related to discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, credit and education. Her advocacy efforts have resulted in increased protections under local law beginning in 1988 when she drafted the successful amendment to Suffolk County Human Rights Law to include prohibitions about sexual orientation discrimination. Santantonio retired on July 28, 2017.

 


Rose M. Cicchetti, President

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Rose Cicchetti is the EHV/ERAP Coordinator, Long Island Coalition for the Homeless where she manages a staff of 4 ERAP case managers and spearheads the coordination of 400+ referrals to an Emergency Housing Voucher. Before her current position, Cicchetti was a Program Coordinator at Family Service League where she oversaw the operations of Rapid Rehousing Program, ESG Grant, Program Home and Suffolk Hope. Prior to working at Family Service League, she was the Executive Director at Brighter Tomorrows, Inc., a domestic violence agency.  She enhanced their existing programs by overseeing 1.8 million dollar budget and writing grants to obtain over $50,000 in recurring funding from Federal, State and local entities. Cicchetti holds an Associate Case Management Certificate from, Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare; a Paralegal certificate from Katherine Gibbs; and completed the Court Advocacy Program at Cardozo School of Law.


Stephanie Baldwin, Esq., Vice President

Stephanie Baldwin, Esq. Stephanie Baldwin is an attorney and a strong advocate for people with different abilities. Baldwin is a member of the Suffolk County Disability Advisory Board. She has a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Baldwin has worked with several organizations to make sure that people have knowledge of their civil rights. She is pursuing education law and studying facilitative mediation. Baldwin is a proud wife and mother of two beautiful children.

 

 

 


Elizabeth Bazini

Elizabeth Bazini photoElizabeth Bazini is Assistant Director of Housing at The Safe Center, a domestic violence non profit organization, where she also provides clients with case management services. Her career has spanned over 20 years in Public Service. Although she is a lifelong New Yorker, Bazini resided in Florida for 5 years and worked as Intake coordinator for the Dade County Legal Aid Society. In addition to her role, she regularly organized toy drives for the children of Legal Aid clients. After moving on to the Federal Court System, Bazini spent almost 10 years working as an Assistant Pretrial Services officer at the Federal Courthouse in Brooklyn. She then entered a 17 year career in property management where she learned the real estate market, housing laws and regulations. During this period, Bazini also advocated for her tenants, ensuring that their rights were protected. Despite many successes in property management, she chose to return back to public service where she helps clients secure housing, advocates for tenant rights and helps clients who face housing discrimination. Bazini is solely responsible for assisting Safe Center clients obtain  section 8 vouchers.  Bazini has volunteered for Goddard Riverside Community Center and North Shore Animal League.  She has  a B.A. in Community and Human Services.


Jo Anne Durovich, PhD.

Durovich photoDr. Jo Anne Durovich is a social worker and Assistant Professor at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue, New York. Durovich earned an MSW and Ph.D. in Social Work from Stony Brook University and spent over 15 years in the nonprofit sector where she worked as an administrator and grant writer developing programs for a variety of underserved populations.  During her tenure in the non-profit sector, Durovich was also responsible for staff development and mentoring as well as extensive program evaluation in a variety of settings.  Durovich has been honored by the Long Island Business Institute as a “40 Under 40” distinguished business professional for her leadership and mentoring in the non-profit sector and by the Long Island Business News as a featured faculty person in “Who’s Who in Education”.  She has also been the recipient of the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless “Key of Excellence Award” for her contributions to the homeless service community and homeless people throughout Long Island.  Durovich’s professional interests focus on poverty and homelessness, program development in academic and non-profit settings, program evaluation, leadership and program innovation with a specific focus on increasing access to services for underserved students.


Ernest Fair

Ernest Fair, Jr. is the Owner Manager of Serenity Lifestyle, LLC, a global event and vacation planning enterprise. Fair designed, created  launched and implemented the company after retiring in 2016 as Managing Director of Real Estate Product Development and Management for the TIAA (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America) organization.

Fair joined TIAA in 1989 and during his tenure performed in various acquisition, portfolio and asset management roles for the firm.  With nearly 40 years of experience in institutional real estate, commercial mortgage and private placement acquisitions, portfolio and asset management, he was responsible for overseeing the product development and management activities for TIAA real estate investment products that totaled in excess of $40 billion in assets under management (AuM).

Throughout his career, Fair proved to be a value added innovator and implementor having successfully participated and led in the creation, structure and implementation of the National Accounts team that resulted in long lasting relationships with clients such as Sam Zell, Forest City Enterprises, Forest City Ratner, the Simon Property Group, Hillwood Properties (Ross Perot, Jr.), the OPUS Group  among others.  His innovative initiatives include the design and implementation of a construction to permanent multi-family loan program, an ownership affordable and workforce housing development program as an equity partner, the creation of a national correspondent council advisory team, one of the founding investors of Impact Community Capital LLC, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certified by the State of California.  All of his innovative initiatives resulted in positive bottom line impact.

As the real estate product manager, Fair oversaw the TIAA Real Estate Account an industry leading real estate fund that was designed to provide commercial real estate investment access for TIAA participants with guaranteed liquidity as well as the development and management of both SEC registered and unregistered, open and closed end real estate funds including the Real Property Fund, an industry leading initiative that includes real estate as an asset class as a part of the TIAA Lifecycle series.

Prior to joining TIAA, Fair’s industry experience included investment, portfolio and asset management duties with Lincoln Financial Corp, Capital Holding Corp. (Aegon) and UNUM Corp.

An A Better Chance “ABC” scholar,  Fair earned a B.A. from Ohio Wesleyan University and an M.S.B.A. from St. Francis College. He has served on the Board of Governors for the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) including a special assignment as a contributing author for the MBA’s Council to Shape Change, on the investment committee for the Danforth Foundation of St. Louis and on the mortgage and equity opportunity committees for the Community Preservation Corp. (CPC) in New York City. In addition, he served as a member of the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and was one of the founding members of the Defined Contribution Real Estate Council “DCREC”. He currently serves on the Board of Advisors for 5 Stone Green Capital.


Georgette Grier-Key, Ed.D.

Dr. Georgette Lovette Grier-Key is the executive director and chief curator of Eastville Community Historical Society of Sag Harbor and has worked in various museums, historical societies, and service organizations with a focus on organizational sustainability. Grier-Key is a historian, preservationist, and curator, using her skills and experience as an organizer and activist to further the agenda of inclusion in traditional frameworks that have practiced institutional and structural exclusion. She is a not-for-profit management specialist and practitioner with more than 20 years of experience in both business and non-profit organizations. She provides consultant services from small to mid-sized organizations including several municipalities. Grier-Key currently serves on the board of the Museum Association of New York and the board of the Preservation League of New York State. Additionally, Grier-Key dedicates herself to her community by leading and serving on local and regional boards such as the NAACP Brookhaven Town Branch where she is the duly elected President.  Grier- Key is an adjunct assistant professor at CUNY Medgar Evers College and the director of the Long Island History Institute at SUNY Nassau Community College.


Linda R. Hassberg, Esq.

Linda R. Hassberg, Esq.Linda Hassberg, President of the Board of Directors, is a senior attorney in the Long Island office of the Empire Justice Center. Empire Justice is the only statewide, multi-issue, multi-strategy non-profit law firm focused on changing the “systems” within which poor and low income families live. With a focus on poverty law, Empire Justice undertakes research and training, acts as an informational clearinghouse, and provides litigation backup to local legal services programs and community based organizations, including Long Island Housing Services. As an advocacy organization, Empire Justice engages in legislative and administrative advocacy on behalf of those impacted by poverty and discrimination. As a non-profit law firm, the Center provides legal assistance for those in need and undertakes impact litigation in order to protect and defend the rights of disenfranchised New Yorkers.

Hassberg’s primary responsibility at Empire Justice Center is impact litigation in the areas of public benefits, access to health care, and disabilities. She has filed class action lawsuits against both counties in Long Island challenging untimely eligibility determinations for benefits applications, due process violations, and failure to provide emergency assistance. In addition, she has represented clients at administrative hearings and in court seeking assistance with child support, Medicaid coverage, day care benefits, and adequate emergency housing. In her prior work as staff attorney at the Western New York Law Center in Buffalo, New York, Hassberg represented Long Island Housing Services’ Fair Housing agency counterpart in Erie County, Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc., in several actions challenging discrimination in the provision of federal Section 8 housing vouchers, and apartment rentals in state subsidized housing.


Tawanda Harris

Tawanda Harris photoTawanda D. Harris is a graduate of Livingstone College (Cum Laude) in Salisbury, NC where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Office Administration.  She also earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Secretarial Science from LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, NY.  Harris has over 30 years of experience working in the Affordable Housing Industry and has held various positions. She holds Certificates in Housing Inspection as well as Rent Calculations and has been employed with the New York City Housing and Preservation Development Agency, The Oakland Housing Authority, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, Nassau County Office of Housing and Community Development and Common Ground. She has also served on the Former County Executive Thomas Suozzi’s Nassau County Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness Task Force. Presently, Harris is employed with the New York State Housing and Community Renewal Agency. She is also a member of the NAACP, NCNW and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.


Connie Lassandro, President Emeritus

Connie Lassandro photoConnie Lassandro is an innovative and visionary leader, with more than thirty years of diverse experience working in the non-profit and government sectors administering housing programs for low and moderate income persons. Appointed by County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi in 2002 as Director of Nassau County’s Office of Housing & Homeless Services, she was a leader in the preservation of affordable rental units and in the rehabilitation and construction of additional affordable rental units in Nassau County. She administered the largest Housing Choice Voucher Program and ancillary housing initiatives in Nassau County; introduced Section 8 Project-Based Vouchers to promote new construction and substantial rehabilitation on existing housing stock; leveraged Low Income Housing Tax Credits, HOME and IDA funding to expand affordable housing throughout Nassau County. Lasandro co-authored the Nassau County Fair Housing Plan and Housing Plan; implemented the first Section 8 program on Long Island in 1974 for the City of Glen Cove and, prior to becoming Director of Nassau’s Housing Program, was Director of Homeless Services for the Community Development Corporation of Long Island (CDCLI) in Suffolk County.

During her leadership Nassau County OHHS was certified in 2005 as a HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agency, and created the Nassau County Homeownership program providing housing counseling to first time homebuyers and for foreclosure/loss mitigation. Additionally, under her leadership in 2003 Nassau County was awarded a Five Year Homelessness Intervention Program Grant of $1.1 million dollars from the NYS Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance and in 2009 a grant of $6.5 million from U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Renewal to administer the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing (HPRP) grant.

Currently, Lassandro serves as Chairperson of the Town of Riverhead’s Anti-Bias Task Force; Long Island Housing Services’ Board of Directors; Long Island Community Foundation Affordable & Equitable Housing Initiative Advisory Committee; Community Advocates Inc. Secretary; ERASE Racism’s College of Advisors and Co-Chairperson for ERASE Racism’s Annual Benefit Reception in 2014 & 2015. She has served on National, State and Local committees and boards: National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials; National Leasing Housing Association; U.S. Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Casey Family Foundation Child Welfare Working Committee; National Center for Housing & Child Welfare;

Formerly, Lassandro served as Co-Chair of the Nassau County Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, and Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi’s Homeless Task Force, Founder of the WARMBED Homeless Winter Hotline program, Fair Housing Task Force; Illegal Housing (Co-Chair) Task Force; Sober/Rooming Housing Advisory Committee; Common Sense for the Common Good Task Force Housing Committee Co-Chair; Women for Workforce Housing; Long Island Association Workforce Housing Committee; Long Island Housing Partnership; Nassau County Housing Development Committee; Association of Long Island Housing Agencies; and  Boards of La Fuerza Unida Inc.; Community Development Corp.; Community Development Financial Lending Institute (CDFLI);  Dominican Village; Sisters of Saint Dominic; Bethany House; Child Welfare League of America Housing Committee; Nassau Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless; and Hempstead Boys and Girls Club.

Professionally, Lassandro’s career reflects a hybrid experience not only in housing and community causes, but in protocol and public relations, which began during the administration of NYC Mayor John Lindsay, Chief of Protocol, and John (Bud) Palmer in the organization of celebrations, parades and diplomatic/head of state dinners and receptions coordinating with the United States Secret Service.

Currently, she is an Independent Consultant Revitalizing Communities with Economic Development & Housing  and advocate for Affordable/Workforce Housing, Homelessness, Anti-Bias and  all acts of Discrimination. Consultant for Riverview Lofts, East Main Street, Riverhead NY a storm recovery 116-unit development right in the heart of downtown Riverhead, featuring ground floor retail space, rooftop terrace with beautiful views of the Peconic River.


Jennifer L. Martin, Esq.

Jennifer L. Martin, Esq.Jennifer Martin’s career has traversed positions in corporate and public service sectors. She graduated with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Tennessee State University in 2005, and was awarded a J.D. from Touro College School of Law in 2009. Martin is currently Chief of Staff for Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Valerie M. Cartwright. She held prior public posts as a District Representative to State Senator Jeffrey Klein and positions in the New York State and Tennessee State Attorney Generals’ offices. As a law school student, Martin served as Northeast Regional Chairperson for the National Black Law Students Association, presiding over regional board meetings and facilitating diversity events. The daughter of a US Air Force Veteran, Martin joined Association for Mental Health and Wellness’s Board in 2017 and has been active on our fundraising events committees and our Organizational Diversity workgroup. She also serves as a part-time as a special prosecutor in the Village of Hempstead. Martin is the President of the Long Island and New York State Chapters of the National Women’s Political Caucus.


Pilar Moya

Pilar Moya photoPilar Moya serves as the Executive Director of Housing Help Inc., a ‘tiny but mighty’ not-for-profit HUD Certified counseling organization in Greenlawn, NY that specializes in housing counseling, financial literacy counseling, and debt and credit education. Moya has always been passionately dedicated to helping her peers maximize their opportunities with financial literacy and debt/credit education, a position she extends to her work in advocating for housing for all.  Moya proudly serves her community as a bilingual Personal Finance Expert, a position she uses to help members of her community in order to assist individuals attain stable financial and housing goals through education on budgeting, debt management skills and housing options.

Prior to her career at Housing Help Inc. Moya oversaw twenty volunteer debt counselors at Family Service League, a human service non-profit, in their highly successful Debt Counseling Program. Since starting at Housing Help, Moya has guided the organization’s expansion in outreach and advocacy. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Moya launched programs with local churches and organizations to serve those the most in need, including seniors and those at risk of losing their homes. As director of Housing Help, Moya coordinated the delivery of 1605 meals and Covid-19 precautionary supplies to local families, in collaboration with the Suffolk County Police department and other local agencies. Moya has expanded financial literacy education courses using her own curriculum in townships across Long Island, including those for recent New Americans and migrant workers on the East End. Working with local representatives, Moya has advocated for increasing the amount of affordable housing available for the working poor, youth, those with disabilities, seniors, and other at-risk populations. Housing Help continues to grow under Moya’s guidance, increasing its advocacy efforts across the state of New York and welcoming new community-based partners with hopes of continuing its mission of affordable, safe, decent housing for all people.

Moya received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration – Finance from Baruch College and also holds an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science – Business Management from LaGuardia Community College.

Awards:

  • Luis Arce Success Award from the NYS Neighborhood Preservation Coalition
  • 2020 Certificate of Civic Engagement from the League of Women Voters
  • 2019 Certificate of Recognition from NYS Senator James Gaughran
  • 2019 Leadership Huntington Graduate of Distinction Award
  • 2013 Proclamation from Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone
  • 2010 Town of Huntington Certificate of Recognition for the Leadership Huntington Program
  • 2010 Innovation Award from Family Service League
  • 2010 Town of Huntington Certificate of Recognition for Parent Leader Initiative
  • 2010 Proclamation for Parent Leadership Initiative from County Executive Steve Bellone

Board Membership:

  • Affordable Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board
  • Huntington Township Housing Coalition Steering Committee
  • Latinos Unidos de Long Island- Founder
  • Long Island Housing Services
  • Neighborhood Preservation Coalition
  • Quontic Bank Black and Brown Advisory Board
  • Suffolk County Anti-Bias Task Force
  • Suffolk County Hispanic Advisory Board

Emily Murphy, LMSW, Secretary

Emily Murphy, MSWEmily Murphy is a recent graduate from Stony Brook University. She received her Master’s Degree in Social Work with a specialization in Community, Policy and Political Social Action from the School of Social Welfare in 2020. Mx. Murphy is currently serving as a Legislative Aide for Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker. She has previously interned in the Town of Brookhaven in Councilwoman Valerie Cartright’s office and at Penates, Inc., an agency with a transitional house for women affected by homelessness. As an undergraduate student, she served on the Executive Board of the University Tampa’s LGBTQ+ organization, UTampa Pride. Mx. Murphy has worked in both corporate and public service structure. Mx. Murphy has designed and facilitated various community advocacy projects including a project coordinated with folks affected by homelessness utilizing Pax Christi Hospitality Center services, which she presented at the Town of Brookhaven’s Council District 1 Quality of Life Task Force. She is passionate about the involvement of the community in advocacy and is looking forward to working further in areas that focus on the improvement of quality of life.

 


Yolanda Oddman

Yolanda OddmanYolanda Oddman has been a devoted, enthusiastic educator for nearly 25 years. She worked for the New York City Board of Education as a Special Education Teacher for 2 years. Currently, she has been employed with the Central Islip School District as an elementary school teacher for the past 23 years. Oddman is a returning member of Long Island Housing Services (LIHS), as her initial appointment was prematurely terminated due to unforeseen health reasons. Oddman is a Breast Cancer survivor and advocate.

Oddman’s passion for housing advocacy began in the 1990s when her sister and nieces were victims of housing discrimination. She was her family’s support system during this time. LIHS advocated for the family and won an unfair housing discrimination case. This was the spark that ignited Oddman’s passion and drive to pursue becoming a member of LIHS. Oddman wanted to contribute to the mission and vision of LIHS by making stable and fair housing available to all.

Oddman attended the New York Institute of Technology, where she received her B.S. in Psychology and an M.A. in General Education. She also attended Touro College, where she obtained her Students with Disabilities Certification, Birth – 6th grade. She became an educational trainer, teaching Ruby Payne’s strategies in the framework for Understanding Poverty and the impact it has on educating students. She also participated in extensive training to become a facilitator with the frameworks of the Literacy Collaborative. This allowed Oddman to implement reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language skills interactively to achieve proficiency in reading. This collaboration was the impetus that motivated Oddman to create KARMA ( Kids Are Reading More Accurately) LLC tutoring service. Additionally, Oddman has been a leading cooperative teacher affiliated with teacher education programs at various colleges and universities. In this professorial role,  Oddman instructs interns on hands-on, practical pedagogy.

Oddman brings substantial expertise to LIHS from her comprehensive background as an educator. She has an intricate understanding from an educational perspective of how unfair housing and discriminatory practices negatively impact the educational outcomes for students. Marginalized populations are extremely vulnerable to housing insecurity, which further exacerbates educational disparities. Her prior affiliations with organizations such as Erase Racism, Long Island Black Educators, The Central Islip Civic Association’s Food Pantry, and the NAACP all support her long-standing commitment to serving others and volunteering her time where help is needed. Oddman is thrilled to rejoin Long Island Housing Services, where she can make a profound difference in the lives of our most vulnerable populations, which are children and their families.


Michael Wigutow, Esq., Treasurer

Michael Wigutow has been an attorney with Nassau/Suffolk Law Services, a non-profit, legal services program assisting low-income individuals and families, for over thirty years. He has have represented people with severe and persistent mental health issues in their efforts to secure safety net assistance, ensure that the homeless obtain emergency housing assistance, and preserve existing housing. For much of the last two decades, Wigutow has focused on preserving housing for low-income individuals and families, and enforce their right to safe and decent housing.  Wigutow represents tenants facing eviction and the loss, or improper reduction of essential federal rental subsidies, and since the financial crisis of 2007-08, low and moderate income homeowners facing foreclosure.  Wigutow has litigated in hearings and trials in both State and Federal Courts, and administrative hearings, and in appeals in both New York State’s Appellate Division and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, invoking several civil rights laws from the post-civil war reconstruction statutes to the Housing Acts of 1937 and 1949, to the Fair Housing Act of 1968, amended in 1988.  Wigutow is a Board member of two well-respected Long Island housing advocacy agencies, Long Island Housing Services and Housing Help, Inc., and has served as a member of the committee considering Nassau County’s Consolidated Plan and analysis of impediments to fair housing.  Wigutow has presented at Continuing Legal Education Programs for the New York State and Suffolk County Bar Associations, as well as to various social organizations working with low-income Long Islanders in need.


Long Island Housing Services – Board of Directors

  • Rose M. Cicchetti – President
  • Stephanie Baldwin, Esq. – Vice President
  • Emily Murphy, MSW- Secretary
  • Michael Wigutow, Esq. –  Treasurer
  • Elizabeth Bazini
  • Jo Anne Durovich, PhD.
  • Ernest Fair
  • Georgette Grier-Key, Ed. D.
  • Tawanda Harris
  • Linda R. Hassberg, Esq.
  • Connie Lassandro- President Emeritus
  • Jennifer L. Martin, Esq.
  • Pilar Moya
  • Yolanda Oddman

Advisory Council

  • Alex P. Ames, CPA
  • Frederick K. Brewington, Esq.
  • Cathryn Harris-Marchesi, Esq.
  • Thomas Maligno, Esq.
  • Robert Schonfeld, Esq.
  • Hon. Vivian Viloria-Fisher
  • Beth M. Wickey, Esq