Staff Spotlight: Ashlie Young

Aubry Vonck • Nov 24, 2021

When Manager of Landlord Engagement Ashlie Young joined the Coalition in October 2019, the Landlord Engagement team was a new venture for our organization. It didn’t take long for this team to grow into a powerhouse thanks to Ashlie’s strong leadership and hard-working attitude. Thanks in large part to Ashlie, Houston is paving the way for landlord engagement programs across the country. Learn more about Ashlie and the work she does at the Coalition in this month’s staff spotlight!

Q: Where are you from originally?

I was born in Atlanta, GA, but I grew up in Houston. We re-located to Houston from San Antonio where we were stationed at Randolph Air Force Base after my dad retired from the military. I graduated from Clear Lake High School and received by B.S. in Psychology from University of Houston-Downtown.

Q: What do you love most about Houston?

I love the Houston culture and the camaraderie. I have seen this city come together in times of celebration and even disaster; I truly believe the support is immeasurable. Houston is like no other city.

Q: What made you want to work in the area of homelessness?

I chose to work in this area because it is not only my passion but my purpose to serve. It is a humbling experience to serve the people in my community. Proverbs 31:20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

Q: Can you tell me a little about your role at the Coalition and what it entails?

I became the Manager of Landlord Engagement for the Coalition for the Homeless in October 2019. Landlord Engagement is a new part of the Coalition within the Programs Department. The position was established to build system capacity through recruitment efforts and expanding affordable housing availabilities for the population that we serve. I educate landlords by demystifying their assumptions about the homeless population, and I work to support the relationship between properties, our partner agencies, and our clients. I reduce the time between someone experiencing homelessness to becoming housed. I also reduce housing barriers that are preventing people from obtaining a place to call home. I do this because everyone in our community deserves a safe place to call home, which is our organization’s vision. It is a human right!

Q: What is the most inspiring part of your job?

I am most inspired by being a part of a collaborative effort with other people who are striving towards the same goal and working with people who have a heart for other people. It means the world to me.

Q: Do you have any hobbies outside of work?

I am a professional performance artist through spoken word and acting. I have performed on many platforms and acted in stage plays and movies. Two of these movies just received a distribution deal through Maverick Entertainment.

Q: If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?

Shuri, Princess of Wakanda in Black Panther, because her genius-level intellect and intelligence are her super-power. She is an innovative scientist responsible for creating Wakanda’s modern technology. Her mind is her power and I love that about Shuri.

Q: What is one thing that makes you proud?

The unconditional love of my family makes me proud! My parents, for all of the sacrifices they have made for me and my younger sister. My husband, for his resiliency through barriers he faced while growing up, to experiencing a heart attack at the age of 35, having to retire early from the medical field and still being an amazingly supportive husband, father, and making strides through his artistry which led to him becoming a published author, professional spoken word artist and actor, as well as an inspirational activist within our community. Our girls, Karissa and Kaiya, who I have been blessed to be a part of their lives since they were six and seven years old. I am proud of their growth, their intellect, their discernment, and their sweet nature. I am proud of their focus in school, and the fact that not only are they continuously on the honor- roll, but they are also volleyball stars and they both have been inducted into the GeoFORCE program.

Q: If you invite three people to dinner, dead or alive, who would you invite and why?

My grandmother, Mary Jones, so she can see the fruition of her legacy. Just so I could hear her laugh and tell her I love her one more time.

Maya Angelou because she was a literary queen. My poetic stage name is Neo2rize, which was partially inspired by her infamous poem, “Still I Rise.”

My family (which includes more than 3 people) because I want to continuously have fun and laughter-filled dinners with them. They are the light of my life!

Q: Tell us one fun fact about yourself!

My favorite tv show is Law & Order: SVU.