Sojourner House Appoints Richard Godfrey, Affordable Housing Leader and Former RIHousing Executive Director, as New Board Chair
Providence, RI – Sojourner House, a nonprofit organization providing housing and supportive services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, announced that Richard Godfrey, a national leader in real estate finance and community development, will serve as the new Chair of their Board of Directors. As the former Executive Director of RIHousing,
Godfrey brings with him an exciting depth of knowledge on housing assistance programs and affordable housing development. “Richard joined our board in 2021, shortly after we made the decision to begin developing affordable housing,” said Vanessa Volz, President and CEO of Sojourner House. “His guidance and willingness to share his expertise has been instrumental in the success of that work. That’s why the board was so excited to ask him to take on this new leadership role. They knew his passion for creating safer, healthier communities would continue to add value to our organization.”
Since 2021, Sojourner House has acquired and renovated 9 additional properties with a total of 42 housing units. In the next few months, they expect to close on an additional property, bringing the total number of units in their housing portfolio up to 44.
“Becoming a housing developer was a bold move for our agency, but it was necessary,” said Volz. “As advocates, we aim to remove the barriers keeping our clients from safety. With Rhode Island’s housing crisis worsening, we knew the greatest challenge our clients faced was access to affordable housing. So we stepped in and began creating it ourselves.”
On accepting the role of Board Chair, Godfrey says he’s honored. “As the CEO of a large employer and with responsibility for more than 40,000 homes in Rhode Island in my role at RIHousing, I directly observed the toll that domestic violence takes, not just on the immediate family, but also on the workplace and the entire community,” said Godfrey. “I saw countless examples where domestic violence did damage to entire families for generations.”
“Growing up in the sixties, I became sensitized to the causes of social injustice and urban unrest and realized that a comprehensive approach was needed to address these issues,” said Godfrey. “Urban renewal and public housing were the established but failing programs at that time, but I saw the need for custom designed strategies to address the broad range of complex human needs. That’s the kind of work that Sojourner House does, and work I’m honored to be a part of. Their services are tailored to meet the specific needs of victims of violence, and that allows them to serve their clients as holistically as possible.”
Godfrey has worked in the field of affordable housing for more than 50 years and serves as an adjunct professor at Roger Williams University, teaching courses that promote just, sustainable and resilient communities with good homes, healthy environments and economic opportunity. With Godfrey’s leadership, Sojourner House is poised to deepen its impact at the intersection of housing and victim services in the years ahead.
About Sojourner House:
Sojourner House is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Since their founding in 1976, Sojourner House has helped more than 60,000 victims of abuse on their journey to emotional and economic stability. Their clients have access to emergency shelter, supportive housing, legal services, clinical counseling, support groups, sexual health advocacy, basic necessities like food and hygiene products, and more.
Drop-In Center: 1570 Westminster St, Providence, RI 02909
24/7 Helpline: 401-765-3232
Website: www.sojournerri.org