About Richmond Neighborhood Housing Service, Inc.
Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (RNHS) has a long rich history in the City of Richmond. It has provided housing services to Richmond residents since 1981. RNHS was founded by dedicated low- income Richmond residents to address the housing needs within the community and was created to strengthen low income families and neighborhoods through the development and management of housing projects.
RNHS has served hundreds of families and individuals in jeopardy of losing their homes. RNHS has developed, acquired and/or rehabilitated over 400 single family homes including housing developments in blighted and vacant lots to sell or manage as affordable homes to purchase, or rent for low- income families. RNHS has also served residents through our education programs that include financial literacy programs, home loan programs, foreclosure prevention, and affordable rental counseling.
The cornerstone of the organization’s mission is to ensure that East Bay (specific areas include Richmond, El Cerrito, San Pablo and Pinole) and County residents have access to affordable housing (by definition of those incomes below median levels) and rents; while staying relevant to the current housing crisis conversation taking place in the Bay Area. Currently RNHS is looking to add additional services to its platform to ensure the organizational relevancy.
The landscape of housing services has changed in the City of Richmond; currently RNHS is the only organization with an active concentration in the development and acquisition efforts to secure properties for low income families. The AHEAD grant will be instrumental in our efforts in developing the next stage of our work; this work includes the promotion of homeownership and affordable rents, and launching an advocacy component to ensure that under represented and underserved communities within the area RNHS ( Richmond, El Cerrito, San Pablo, and Pinole) serves are not ignored as significant dollars (NHTF- National Housing Trust Fund) are distributed through communities to address the rental housing benefiting extremely low income (ELI) households (75%) and the needs of very low income (VLI) households(25%) serving communities that have been labeled to have the greatest disparity related to income and housing.
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RNHS continues to work for a more just and equitable society.
RNHS is a HUD-approved Housing Counseling agency
More information on our affiliations can be found at www.hud.gov.
Board of Directors
Position: Interim President
Adam Briones is the Chief Executive Officer of California Community Builders (CCB), where he leads research, advocacy, and community organizing efforts to end California’s racial wealth gap and housing crisis for communities of color. Prior to CCB, Adam was the Senior Director of Economic Equity of the Greenlining Institute where he helped to secure over $10 billion in community reinvestment commitments from large financial institutions. Previously, Adam spent a decade in housing development and real estate finance, primarily in New York. His work there included acting as Vice President of Real Estate Development at the Genesis Companies, one of the city’s most active African-American-owned affordable housing developers. Adam was also a Senior Analyst for HR&A Advisors, a leading national consulting firm specializing in real estate and economic development advisory services. Before that, Adam was a Housing Fellow with New York City’s affordable housing finance agencies, the NYC Housing Development Corporation, and the Department of Housing Preservation & Development. As a Housing Fellow, he closed construction and permanent financing on over 1,300 units totaling more than $150 million in debt and tax credit equity. As a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Fellow in Washington DC, Adam interned with the office of Congresswoman Maxine Waters and the House Financial Services Committee. Adam has also held internships with Union Bank’s Community Development Finance group as well as the West Angeles Community Development Corporation, a faith-based community developer. Adam holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of California Los Angeles and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from UC Santa Cruz. Adam was born and raised in Oakland, CA.
Position: Parliamentarian
Rolanda Wilson is a Finance Executive leveraging 20 years of experience in Financial Analysis, Funding Sources and Commercial & Industrial Real Estate Assets to provide exceptional financial consultation services to new and existing clients. She brings an analytical approach to financials and systems to uncover revenue and earnings opportunities.
Rolanda is the President of Sound Investments, Inc. which is a Real Estate Brokerage that provides
concierge real estate services including regional real estate development analysis for key commercial
clients, feasibility analysis, negotiating sales and purchase contracts, and property management services.
Prior to founding Sound Investments, Inc. Rolanda worked primarily with Fortune 500 companies providing financial reporting, analysis and forecasting. Rolanda’s experience included managing a $56 million-dollar revenue stream, key drivers, and bad debt allocations. Auditing the bad debt allocations, she uncovered a discrepancy in the calculation that resulted in saving the company over a million dollars.
In addition, Rolanda designed multi-tiered financial planning models for budgeting, measuring the company’s performance and long-range benchmark goals. She developed key industry indicators/metrics and gross profit measurements for the Board of Directors as well as reviewed regulations with attorneys to ensure State and Federal compliance. She developed ongoing analyses, set up tracking systems, and conducted analyses including key revenue drivers', operational expenses, and capital expenses.
Rolanda served as the President of Women's Council of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers which is a nonprofit whose mission is the encourage leadership and education with women in the real estate industry. During, Rolanda's presidency she launched Fundamental Investment in Real Estate Management (FIRM). FIRM® is a mentorship program that targets low to moderate-income high school teenagers and provide on the job training in the real estate industry.
For the past 3 years, Rolanda has served on two nonprofit housing counseling agencies and a Community Advisory Board for Contra Costa County. The housing counseling agencies provide housing advocacy, asset management, financial and homebuyer education for members of the community they serve. The Community Advisory Board that provides input on community needs, community engagement strategies and offer recommendations for ongoing realignment planning and budgets.
Rolanda has a B.A. in Business Administration and Finance from Sonoma State University. Rolanda is a result and detailed oriented professional with a high degree of initiative, outstanding communication skills and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Position: Treasurer
Gohn Marie was raised in the Oakland/Berkeley area and received her B.A. in Health Services Administration from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California.
Relentless about helping her clients achieve their goals, Gohn McFadden has gained notoriety for going the extra mile. A native of North Oakland, she’s always had a deep connection to her local community and finds true joy in helping others put down roots. The reputable Realtor® credits her father for sparking an interest in real estate development. Shadowing him on construction sites as a child, Gohn received an education from the ground up from tear-downs to trim work.
Cutting her teeth in real estate investing early on, she honed skills that would later prove invaluable. Pivoting into sales, Gohn was a natural. Coupling her local roots, unmatched market insight, construction chops, and investment expertise, she’s become a true asset to the clients in her care. A resourceful Realtor® with a penchant for numbers, she’s the consummate advocate when it comes time to navigate what’s likely the largest transaction of a lifetime.
Residing in North Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood, Gohn hasn’t strayed far from her childhood stomping grounds. Beloved for its tight-knit feel, she adores Temescal’s dreamy parks and vibrant eateries. Equally active in her downtime, she’s never been one to turn down a friendly tennis match, a day on the golf links, or a walk around Lake Temescal or Bushrod park with her beloved pups, Brody, and Bailey.
Position: Member
Fathia Macauley joined Housing Trust as Chief Lending Officer in September 2019 and provides oversight for Housing Trust’s lending programs including multifamily and first-time homebuyer programs, as well as new lending initiatives. Fathia has over 21 years of experience financing and developing redevelopment projects throughout California, including affordable housing development projects, community facilities, and other commercial real estate. She has managed over $1B in CRA and affordable housing development projects, and participated in the creation of over 4,000 affordable homes, either as a developer or lender. Prior to joining Housing Trust, Fathia was California Market Lead at Capital Impact Partners, leading strategic planning for affordable housing lending and business strategy for California. She managed three venture loan funds, including leading Capital Impact’s loan origination participation in The Bay’s Future Fund. Her role prior to Capital Impact was Director of Business Development, Northern California for Clearinghouse CDFI, a position which she held for five years. From 2004 to 2011, Fathia became a strategic development consultant, assisting nonprofit organizations, as well as small businesses and trained professionals in fund development. She has been a guest lecturer at both the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and UCLA Economics Department. Fathia holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and African Area Studies from UCLA and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.
Position: Member
Ms. Brown is a partner in the firm practicing in the areas of real estate, affordable housing, public housing authorities, land use, and municipal law. Ms. Brown represents clients in all phases of the development process, including property acquisition, entitlement and administrative approvals, fair housing compliance, negotiating real estate disputes, and the financing and management of affordable housing projects and programs.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Brown was a Deputy County Counsel for the County of Riverside where she represented the Economic Development Agency, the Housing Authority and its nonprofit affiliates, the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency and the Aviation Division.
Goldfarb & Lipman LLP, Oakland, California, 2019 - present.
County of Riverside, Office of County Counsel, 2013 - 2019
J.D., University of San Francisco School of Law.
B.A., University of California, Berkeley
State Bar of California. Housing and Development Law Institute. County Counsels' Association of California.
Position: Member
Kwame Baah-Arhin is a Richmond native with a deep-seated commitment to the advancement of affordable housing. Serving as a real estate agent at Feagley Realtors, he has amassed a year-long tenure marked by dedication and enthusiasm.
Position: Member
Shanon Lampkins-Jones is a Director with Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.'s Northern California office. She leads a team which provides capacity building support and technical assistance to rural and tribal communities in support of the State of California’s Homekey program. Prior to joining Enterprise, Shanon spent over 20 years in affordable housing asset management, working for a number of non-profit developers in Northern and Southern California. Her portfolios have included units for low and moderate income individuals, families, seniors, transition aged youth, persons with special needs and people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Shanon earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Redlands and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Southern California.
Position: Member
Obinna Uwakah Associate Project Developer, Real Estate Development | Eden Housing Mr. Uwakah joined the Eden Housing Development team in 2022 and is currently managing the development of 300 units of affordable housing across the Bay Area, including a rehabilitation project, a transit-oriented mixed-use development, and a pivotal project leveraging public and private funding sources. Before working at Eden, Obinna earned his Master’s degree in Real Estate Development and design, with a focus on affordable housing, public-private partnerships, and impact investment. Obinna is now earning his MBA at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business with an emphasis on finance and impact investment. Before his career in affordable housing, Obinna spent 7 years as an entrepreneur, building a global distribution business that focused on increasing access to technology by providing consumers with new and upcycled electronics in emerging markets. Having been born and raised in the Fillmore district of San Francisco, Obinna fully appreciates the cost-of-living challenges that families experience in the Bay Area. Obinna strives to contribute to a built environment that is more equitable and economically viable for all.
Position: Member
C.J. Johnson is a Partner of Ford Financial Fund. In addition, he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mechanics Bank. Previously, Mr. Johnson served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Mechanics Bank and as Senior Vice President and Director of Financial Planning and Analysis for Santa Barbara Bank & Trust.
Mr. Johnson joined Ford Financial Fund from Flexpoint Ford, where he was an Associate and assisted with the execution of the firm's financial services investments. Mr. Johnson started his career as an investment banking Analyst with Credit Suisse.
Mr. Johnson holds a B.A. in economics, with highest distinction and honors, from the University of Michigan. He was the recipient of the Harold D. Osterweil Memorial Prize in economics for graduating at the top of his class while also displaying a high degree of social awareness.
Mr. Johnson currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Richmond Housing Renovation, LLC, a non-profit organization with a mission to reduce vacant and blighted single-family housing in vulnerable low-income neighborhoods of Richmond, California. Richmond Housing Renovation, LLC is funded by a $3 million social impact bond financed solely by Mechanics Bank.
Position: Member
My career has been dedicated to creating and implementing strategies that drive financial empowerment through homeownership. Most recently, I revitalized CalHFA program at U.S. Bank to accelerate the use of this Affordable Lending program. I also developed a comprehensive training deck that has become the template for future HFA program trainings. In my current role as Community Impact Manager at U.S. Bank, I identify opportunities to promote diverse and affordable lending products, build strategic partnerships, and lead business development initiatives. My efforts have been instrumental in promoting the Access Home Initiative and fostering collaboration across different business lines. Previously, I managed a team of 17 loan officers at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, achieving a top 25 national ranking for our office. I have been a subject matter expert on special purpose credit programs and have led significant business development strategies, including collaboration with The Urban League for their Road to Homeownership Journey.
Throughout my career, I have been committed to mentoring and developing diverse talent, fostering financial literacy, and advancing initiatives that support community growth. My experience working with various community partners and leading teams to achieve substantial growth positions me to make a meaningful contribution to Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services. I am passionate about your mission and would be honored to bring my skills and experience to your board. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your organization’s success.
Advisory Committee
Denice has over 15 years of experience in multifamily housing development, financial management, and economic development. She has worked with various community-based organizations and faith-based institutions to implement strategies to advance housing and development policies. Denice has elevated the conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion in leadership and in construction, both internally at EAH Housing and externally in the affordable housing industry throughout California. She has led an ongoing workshop series for SCANPH to discuss how developers can center inclusion in the affordable housing development and construction process. Denice has arranged successful meetings between people of color-led developer organizations in the Bay Area and the CA Deputy Treasurer. Denice strives to expand opportunities for bidding on construction projects for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led (BIPOC-led) third-party vendors, which are otherwise vastly underrepresented in the affordable housing industry.
She has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry. She is accustomed to working with owners and subcontractors to facilitate top-notch teams constructing quality buildings locally in the Bay Area.
As the Director of Pre-Construction, her responsibilities frequently include the Coordination of Pre-construction Services, management of client relationships, and responses to all inquiries for RFQ’s. As well as preliminary budgets, construction cost estimates, contract negotiation and administration, scheduling, value engineering, purchasing, and cost control.
Partners
Creating a more just and equitable society requires a great deal of financial and intellectual capital. Our sincere support and appreciation is extended to the following individuals and corporations for their continued support of the people and programs of East Bay RNHS:
Sponsors
RNHS offers many opportunities for businesses, organizations and individuals looking to make a lasting difference in the lives of families and communities in need. For more information on becoming an RNHS partner or sponsor, contact our Main Office at (510) 237-6459.
Our Staff
Executive Director
Executive Assistant
Property Manager
Tenant Manager
Compliance Officer
Certified Housing Counselor-Lead
Housing Counselor, Supporting SparkPoint Centers