Shayla Washington (she/her) serves as the Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless (BRACH), where she combines compassion, strategy, and a deep commitment to social impact. With 16 years of experience in the nonprofit and human services sector—including work in direct homeless services and local government—Shayla brings both heart and insight to her leadership.
She holds a Master’s in Social Entrepreneurship and Change from Pepperdine University, and a Bachelor’s in English from James Madison University. But beyond the credentials, Shayla’s path to housing leadership is deeply personal. She wouldn’t be in this sector at all if she hadn’t experienced the challenges of the housing system herself—an experience that shaped her perspective and fuels her commitment to creating a more compassionate and equitable future.
"It’s made me look at this work through a different lens, and hopefully one that’s more compassionate and understanding about the plight that folks of all backgrounds go through every day."
Read more about Shayla and her inspiring story below:
Connect with Shayla: LinkedIn, shayla@blueridgehomeless.org, BRACH
Q: Was there a particular moment or experience that inspired you to pursue a career in affordable housing?
Shayla: “I was inspired to work in this sector after experiencing firsthand the intricacies of obtaining homeless and housing services in a resource-rich area like Charlottesville. How were others navigating our system of resources, or were they struggling just as much as I had? When I realized the problem wasn’t unique to me, I pursued a career in this field to figure out why and improve the system from the inside out.”
Q: What is your current role, and what are your main responsibilities?
Shayla: “I serve as the Executive Director of Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless (BRACH), which is the HUD-designated Continuum of Care (CoC) Lead Agency for homeless services. We manage and coordinate efforts to address homelessness in the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. My main responsibilities include strategic planning, performance management and evaluation, grant writing, data management, and ensuring coordination amongst all the providers in our CoC.”
Q: What are some common misconceptions about affordable housing that you’d like to address?
Shayla: “We need to build housing at all price points—in addition to affordable units—so we can not only increase housing stock but have a diverse range of units to meet various income levels and family sizes. This will in turn free up more affordable housing for the people who truly need units at particular price points.”
Q: How do you stay motivated and passionate about your work in the face of challenges?
Shayla: “My family is my motivation for why I do what I do–
I want to make this world a more compassionate and equitable place for my kids and future generations.
I hope by the time they’re old enough, they can buy homes of their own without worrying about the costs or quality, and it can be their little slice of peace from the chaos outside.”
Q: Do you have any hobbies or interests that help you unwind and stay balanced?
Shayla: “Photography, watching reality shows on Netflix, and taking road trips with my family to explore new places.”
Q: How would you sum up your experience with the Housing Leadership Institute in one sentence?
Shayla: “What an inspirational group of amazing people!”
Q: What are some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned through HLI?
"I’ve learned to be more intentional with how I use my time, to speak up for myself with confidence, and to trust that I’m the expert of my own life."
About the Housing Leadership Institute
The Housing Leadership Institute (HLI) is a 10-month intensive and targeted program created and implemented by the Virginia Housing Alliance. The Alliance and its partners designed the program to leverage training, coaching, and peer support. Each year we help 15 mid-career housing professionals foster and grow leadership skills. Through the program, participants create a career development plan to catalyze their leadership trajectory.
The program consists of 7 virtual sessions, 3 in-person retreats across the Commonwealth, 5 one-on-one coaching sessions, readings and reflections to supplement each session, and additional networking and professional development opportunities.
Learn more about HLI or contact Arley Bell at abell@vahousingalliance.org.