Meet Lisa Chapman

Q & A

• By Lucas Day, MSW Student at Michigan State University1. Can you give me your job title and a description of the work you do?

  My job title is Director of Public Policy. I work with MCAH staff and
  collaborative partners across the state to determine policy priorities
  that will help advance the mission of the organization and improve the system for unhoused persons across the state.

  2. How does your work help homeless people, or help more people become housed?

  While I don’t find housing for people myself, my work
  with organizations, funders and legislators across the state indirectly helps to remove barriers to housing, improves access for vulnerable populations, improved utilization of existing resources, as well as increases in funding and services.

  3. Is there one project or achievement with MCAH that you are particularly proud?
  
  I am proud of the Source of Income protections legislation that a
  statewide workgroup that we facilitate is working to get passed. If
  adopted into law, this would help thousands of people in Michigan have their legal sources of income recognized and greatly increase access to housing in areas of their choice.

  4. Is there anything else you want to say or would want people to know?
  
  My work over the years included working with and on behalf of
  persons with disabilities and those that are unhoused. The common
  thread is housing- lack of affordable, accessible, quality housing in
  places where folks want to live. I would say that there is a growing
  awareness (if we hadn’t known before the pandemic) just how
  essential housing is.

  Housing =Life (Matthew Desmond).