PORTLAND, ORE. – Ivory N. Mathews, CEO of Home Forward, the largest affordable housing provider in Oregon, has been elected Senior Vice President of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Board of Governors by more than 26,000 NAHRO members.

“Ivory is a dedicated houser, a fierce advocate and an inspirational leader,” said NAHRO CEO Mark Thiele. “She is a champion for both her community and for NAHRO, and I’m excited to continue working with her on our shared vision of thriving communities with affordable homes for all.”

Mathews will serve on the national Board of Governors in a volunteer capacity for the organization representing the 26,000 housing and community development professionals who administer more than 3 million homes for more than 8 million people across the U.S.

Oregon’s senior Senator, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), said, “I’m thrilled to congratulate Ivory Mathews on her election as Senior Vice President of NAHRO Board of Governors. Ivory has been a tireless national advocate and leader in ensuring housing is affordable and abundant. Having Oregon voices like Ivory’s in national leadership positions benefits our entire state. It strengthens our ability to advance federal policies for our communities that need it most. I look forward to working with her to ensure that Oregon’s priorities are heard in Washington.”

Mathews took her oath of office at the closing plenary session of NAHRO’s National Conference and Exhibition in Phoenix, Ariz. last week, marking the beginning of her 2025-2027 term.

“I am so humbled that the members of NAHRO elected me to serve as the Senior Vice President of the Board of Governors during such a critical moment in time,” said Mathews. ”This opportunity allows us to continue our collective work toward creating thriving communities. I also look forward to working with Oregon’s Congressional Delegation in this new capacity to advocate for equitable access to safe, affordable housing for residents in Multnomah County.”

Home Forward’s National Recognition

Home Forward also received two prestigious NAHRO Awards of Merit.  The agency was awarded an Administrative Innovation Award of Merit for “Home Forward Re-imagined: Equity and Employee-Centered Practices,” which  recognized the agency’s groundbreaking work to build a proactively anti-racist, trauma-informed culture that centers humanity in the workplace. 

Home Forward’s Affordable Housing Award of Merit for the “Affordable Housing” category honored the agency’s partnership with Urban League of Portland on the Hattie Redmond Apartments, a 60-unit new construction project serving chronically homeless Black/African Americans in the historic Albina neighborhood. 

In a joint statement, NAHRO President George Guy and NAHRO CEO Mark Thiele said, “The affordable housing crisis is a national challenge, but every solution begins at the local level. This year’s winners represent agencies of every size and setting, including rural, urban, and suburban communities that range from small to large. What unites them is a shared purpose: creating opportunity, advancing community priorities, and serving with both imagination and compassion.” 

National Affordable Housing Leader Recognition

As CEO of Home Forward, Oregon’s largest affordable housing provider, Mathews leads a team of nearly 400 employees who provide affordable housing for more than 18,000 households throughout Multnomah County. Their portfolio includes over 7,000 apartments, 11,000 Housing Choice Vouchers, and over 2,000 locally funded long-term and short-term rental assistance vouchers. Mathews’ recent accomplishments include:

• In 2024, as Chair of NAHRO’s Legislative Network Advocacy Committee, Mathews led NAHRO’s August Advocacy campaign to historic participation, with 2,500 colleagues delivering more than 140,000 letters to the White House and Members of Congress.
• In 2022, Mathews received NAHRO’s Advocate of the Year Award for her legislative advocacy work.
• In 2019, Mathews testified before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on carbon monoxide detector requirements in affordable housing, contributing to passage of the Carbon Monoxide Alarms Leading Every Resident To Safety Act of 2019.

A first-generation college graduate born and raised in substandard housing in rural South Carolina, Mathews has dedicated her career to addressing the needs of socioeconomically marginalized populations, including BIPOC communities facing barriers to employment, education, health care, and safe housing.

Mathews holds leadership experience across three NAHRO regions and has worked in small, medium, and large housing authorities serving rural, urban, and inner-city communities. She holds a master’s degree in counseling and psychology from Troy University, a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Newberry College, and several nationally recognized certifications in affordable housing.

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About Home Forward

Home Forward is Oregon’s largest provider of affordable housing, serving more than 18,000 households in Multnomah County through rental housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and supportive services. The organization is committed to providing stable, affordable homes and the resources people need to thrive in their communities.

Media Contact:

Ariane Le Chevallier

971-201-1214