Influential Woman · Housing
LORETTA WHITE
Director of Homeowner Services, Housing Advocate, School Board Member, Not specified
Piscataway, NJ
Her Story
About LORETTA
My journey in housing and construction spans over 15 years, beginning as a volunteer while I was raising my children and trying to balance motherhood with work. I started part-time and eventually moved into full-time work with Habitat for Humanity in their grassroots sections, where I constructed their homeowner services program that has now grown to serve over 4 counties. Today, I lead a department of one and a half, where my assistant and I field 10 to 20 calls daily from people seeking housing help. We're not a social service organization, but we act like one because people are at their end when they call us, and sometimes they just need someone to listen. We market our units in New Jersey, work with applicants on their information, plan community service projects once or twice a month, handle walk-ins, and connect residents to rental or mortgage assistance resources. We also engage with political constituents in our area to advocate for affordable housing and explore development partnerships. Beyond my professional work, I'm a school board member in my community and ran for an assembly seat a year ago on a platform of transparency and housing advocacy. Even though I only raised $15,000 compared to my opponents' $400,000, I won my district, which showed that voters want change and that their voices matter. I'm passionate about legislative and policy work because I want to create a legacy and ensure that residents have a say in what happens in their communities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with LORETTA
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my mother and my dad. My mom is in her 80s or 90s, and they brought me up. My dad was an electrician and my mom was in nursing. Even though we were middle-lower class, they did the best that they can, and I follow from example. They always served and they continue to serve, and that's what I do. I continue to serve, too, as well. They're humble people, so I want to be humble with what I do, and I just do it not for recognition, but I do it because I care.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was from a mentor who told me to be myself. She said your time will come, and even though you think that this is not your time, it's all about positioning. If you enjoy what you do, you will be placed where you need to be placed at. So just don't overthink it, and it'll come.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
There's not too many women in our industry, and you have to make your own seat at the table if this is what you love to do. Just do it. People will see you even if you don't think you're being seen. When you're out and about in your community, if you're a community advocate and you serve, people will notice you along the way. I always say service is what we pay for our rent to be here on Earth. So people will notice you if they see you in your community all the time, because I love being in my community. I love to help my community, and if they see that, then they'll see you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Housing is a very small-knit community, and I'm gonna say that they probably only allow certain people to speak on topics and not let new people come in because of their beliefs or ideals. Some organizations and some people don't like change, and they'd rather have it stay the same. But I believe the opportunity is giving people the platform so people can see and make their own decisions.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My values, definitely, is transparency. When I go out and do workshops, I let everybody know that everybody wants a house or somewhere to live, and sometimes people don't do the right things. We just want to make sure that transparency is key. If there's something bothering you, please say it first and foremost rather than later, because then things will get messed up. When I ran for an assembly seat here in my district as a housing advocate, transparency was one of my platforms I ran on. People need to know what we're doing, and our voices are the best vehicles that we have when we're out in the public. It's a strength that people don't think is in the top three of mine, but when you're sincere and you talk about your lived experiences, people can relate. So I believe that transparency is truly important.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · New Jersey
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.