Last summer, CHAPA announced the Musicant Cohen Family Fund’s generous $1 million gift to launch the new CHAPA Housing Policy Action Center. Today, we’re pleased to name Jennifer Gilbert as the first Musicant Cohen Executive Director of the Center.
Jennifer brings more than 25 years of experience in the affordable housing field as a developer, manager, funder, planning board member, grant-maker, and technologist.
“CHAPA’s Housing Policy Action Center will become a critical, permanent part of the housing policy ecosystem and Jennifer is primed to spearhead this effort. Under her leadership, this new research center will build on CHAPA’s long history of affordable housing advocacy to develop the next generation of housing policies that will put Massachusetts on the path to a bright future,” stated Howard Cohen.
From 2018-2025, Jennifer founded and led Housing Navigator Massachusetts, Inc., taking a Tech for Good nonprofit from an idea to a nationally-recognized, free 24/7 affordable housing search tool with 35,000+ users each month.
Before Housing Navigator MA, Jennifer was the Executive Director of the Kuehn Charitable Foundation, launching its practice-based Kuehn Fellows program now in its sixth round with 29 alumni Fellows. She further guided over $3 million in investments in affordable housing and historic preservation. You can find Jennifer’s full bio on CHAPA’s website.
Jennifer’s proven leadership will establish CHAPA’s Housing Policy Action Center as a leading institution bringing research and real-world experience together to advance the future of housing policy in Massachusetts. This research will inform and shape CHAPA’s policy agenda, advancing a thriving Commonwealth where everyone has a safe, healthy, and affordable home in the community they choose.
Please join us in welcoming Jennifer to the CHAPA team and stay tuned for updates on the Center’s work!