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About Me

• I have lived in Annapolis for the past 28 years, owning a home in West Annapolis.
   
• For most of these 28 years, I have worked downtown and in Eastport.
   
• I am single and previously married.  Although I do not have children, I helped raise two children, now fine adults with children of their own.
   
• My favorite leisure time activities include gardening, boating, and travel.
   

      

My Current Job - Chairman, Homes for America

Currently, I am the Chairman and Co-founder of Homes for America (HFA) an Annapolis based nonprofit organization that develops and owns affordable housing throughout the mid-Atlantic region.  A colleague and I started Homes for America in 1994 with nothing but our many years of housing and community development experience and a desire to have a greater impact on the lives of people by improving their housing.  The two of us started in a little room in Eastport at the Backyard Boats complex.  Today, 14 years later, Homes for America is the 12th largest nonprofit developer of affordable housing in the country.  We have created and own 61 affordable rental communities worth over $350 million, providing over 5,400 affordable apartment homes and we have created homeownership for over 300 people. 

We now employ 15 people, have an office building by the Eastport bridge, and have achieved a strong financial base and a national reputation for excellence. 

	Governor O'Malley at a Homes for America community dedication
	Bay Forest Senior Apartments, an HFA Annapolis community

	Homes at the Glen, an HFA community in Annapolis
	Recognition ceremony for residents of Homes at the Glen completing their lease-purchase requirements

Homes for America has made a significant contribution to Annapolis. We have made 44 families homeowners and we have rehabilitated 16 homes for low-income Annapolis homeowners.  We have created high quality and well managed lease-to-purchase and rental housing for 350 low and moderate income Annapolitans.  In total, almost 500 residents of Annapolis live better because of the work of the organization that I helped to create and lead.

I believe the success of Homes for America demonstrates that I am a creative,  innovative and resourceful executive, while working for the public good.

”The toughest volunteer job in Annapolis”

	HACA Board of Commissioners

I have been a passionate and active volunteer all of my life, but most particularly in the last 28 years while living in Annapolis.  You will find a complete listing of my volunteer and civic involvements by clicking here.  My most visible and difficult volunteer challenge was serving as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA).  In 2002, Mayor Ellen Moyer asked me to serve as a Commissioner of HACA. HACA owns and manages the public housing that serves the lowest income and neediest of Annapolis residents. My fellow Commissioners elected me every year to serve as Chairman, until my term ended in July, 2007.

	Visiting with Public Housing Residents

This job is probably, as a friend has said, "the toughest volunteer job in Annapolis.” It was indeed taxing, time consuming and working against the odds to achieve success.  I gave large amounts of volunteer time to help HACA improve and take satisfaction knowing that I made a positive impact for both HACA residents and for the City as a whole.

Many have asked me why I took on “the toughest volunteer job in Annapolis” and they say they admire me for doing it.

	Presenting plans for the redevelopment of the Clay Street area

Let me tell you why I welcomed the opportunity to serve in that volunteer capacity.  I believe, as I suspect many others do, that public housing --with its related crime, poverty, and social issues, is among Annapolis' biggest and most pressing challenge.  If someone like me, trained and experienced with three decades of housing executive experience, won't stand up and try to improve things--who will? Real progress was made under my leadership, and much still remains to be done to improve HACA and public housing.

The most important long-term change that I initiated and continue to assist HACA with is the transformation of HACA properties from publically owned housing to private/public partnerships.  This includes the complete redevelopment and transfer of the properties to private, professional property management.  For more on this issue, click here. I unquestionably believe that I could not have volunteered my particular expertise to a more needed or important cause for Annapolis. It has provided me with invaluable knowledge that I can use to improve Annapolis.  Certainly, I have learned that it is going to take the City and HACA working together with great cooperation and determination to solve the problems of our public housing communities and improve the lives of its residents.

Citizens for a Better Annapolis

In 2007, I founded Citizens for a Better Annapolis (CBA) to address pressing issues facing the City of Annapolis by providing objective facts and well-documented information.  CBA materials are created by volunteer citizens with expertise in the specific subject areas being addressed.  CBA's goal is to foster more informed and enlightened discussion of City issues by citizens and elected officials, leading to better City policies and practices.

CBA has made numerous presentations to neighborhood, civic, educational, and church groups.  CBA has been widely quoted as a credible source of data and information by the Capital, the Baltimore Sun, and civic groups.

From childhood to national expert

I grew up in Seattle,Washington with my parents, older brother Mike, and the family dog, Tajar.  My parents were both college educators; in their leisure time my father was a magician and my Mom an artist.  My parents placed great value on raising their kids to be strong and independent, to experience the joy of the outdoors and to love travel and new experiences.  My fondest memories are of camping throughout the US, particularly in the West of the 1940-50's, and biking through Europe for two summers staying in youth hostels when I was 10.  I remember my childhood as lively, fun and uncomplicated.  Both of my parents were active volunteers throughout their lives; my brother and I have both followed their example.

I entered college in the era of John F. Kennedy and my parents' idealism really took root.  I majored in Sociology and was most interested in issues of social problems and solutions.  I graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. I attended Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, PA with a full scholarship as the Sociology Department's, Scholar in Sociology, and received a Masters degree.

I married my college boyfriend and we moved together to the Twin Cities in Minnesota.  I was hired to start the housing program at the Metropolitan Council.  This newly formed regional planning/government organization became a national model for regional approaches to urban issues.  I stayed there 10 years and by the time I left we had created and I led one of the country's strongest housing and community development programs and had established a regional housing authority.  I had also established a national reputation for my innovative work.

When President Carter was elected, the leadership at HUD was interested in replicating the Twin Cities experience on a national scale and offered me the chance to do so.  I moved to Washington and went to work managing an office at HUD that administered the country's urban planning, regional housing and community development programs, as well as a variety of state and local programs.  It was a great job to learn about what works best at the local and state level around the country.

	Trudy with Governor William Donald Schaefer

In 1981 after Carter left office, I was hired by Maryland Governor Harry Hughes to come to Maryland to serve as the Director of the State's housing and community development agency, the Community Development Administration (CDA).  In this job I was responsible for all of the housing funding for the State, totaling as much as $500 million annually.

	Signing bonds issued by CDA

While Director, I was responsible for the creation and implementation of a major set of new housing programs that made Maryland a leader in affordable housing and community development programs.  I served as Director of the CDA under both Governor Harry Hughes  and Governor William Donald Schaefer. I directed an agency of 150 employees, which included managing outside bond counsel, municipal banking firms, numerous consultants, financial advisors, and contractors.  It was a technically and politically challenging job with many pressures from all sides.  I learned how to get the best from people, to solve complex problems, and to juggle multiple tasks.  I stayed in that job for 13 years, much longer than anyone before or since.  In that time, I created 85,000 affordable housing units in Maryland and established a national reputation.  I was also honored as the outstanding State Administrator in Maryland in 1993.

		Trudy and Nancy Rase, co-founders of Homes for America, being honored as "Developers of the Year" for the mid-Atlantic region

	Trudy accepting one of many awards won by the Maryland housing agency in her 13 years as Director

Leaving the State, I started Homes for America, which is today among the  most productive and highly regarded nonprofit housing developers in the country, honored repeatedly for the quality of our work.

I am the author of over 30 articles and still write regularly for national professional publications. I appear frequently at national housing conferences. I am currently leading the State legislation to create an Affordable Housing Investment Fund that enables local governments to have new resources and powers to undertake affordable housing.

	Trudy serving dinner at the 10th Anniversary celebration of Bay Forest Senior Apartments