VHA is excited to introduce Josh Lobner, a 2nd year VISTA member serving in Charlottesville, Virginia, as the Financial Opportunity Center and Housing Hub Community Engagement VISTA at Piedmont Housing Alliance (PHA). 

About Josh

Josh was born in Chicago, Illinois, but grew up overseas. He graduated from the University of Richmond, where he majored in English, with minors in Rhetoric and Data Science. He developed an interest in housing while working for the University’s Digital Scholarship Lab.

Current Project

Josh, in collaboration with PHA staff, is conducting a Community Impact Measures Study, which is a 3 year recurring project that collects information about the various communities surrounding PHA properties. This assessment consists of a block observation, building observation, and a door-to-door survey asking community members about their experiences and needs. A consultant will then aggregate and analyze the data generated by these surveys to inform the direction of PHA’s future work and priorities.

In addition to the study, Josh is helping transition the organization to a new online platform that stores and organizes data from each of PHA’s programs. This software enhancement, combined with an update to the organization’s intake process, will make it more convenient for both clients and staff members to access and utilize PHA data. Alongside that transition, Josh also supports outreach efforts, such as attending community events as a PHA representative, in order to raise awareness about the services offered at the Financial Opportunity Center. To connect with Josh about his work or his service year, please contact him at jlobner@piedmonthousing.org.