Meet Ivory Mathews, NAHRO 2025-2027 Senior Vice President!
October 9, 2025 — On September 30, Ivory Mathews began her term as Senior Vice President of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. Mathews, who is also the CEO of Home Forward, Oregon’s largest affordable housing provider, took her oath of office at the closing plenary session of NAHRO’s National Conference and Exhibition in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Ivory is a dedicated houser, a fierce advocate and an inspirational leader,” said NAHRO CEO Mark Thiele. “She is a champion for both her community and for NAHRO, and I’m excited to continue working with her on our shared vision of thriving communities with affordable homes for all.”
“I am so humbled that more than 26,000 members of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officers (NAHRO) elected me to serve as the Senior Vice President of NAHRO’s Board of Governors during such a critical time in time,” saidMatthews. ”This opportunity allows us to continue our collective work toward creating thriving communities with affordable homes for all. I have dedicated my career to addressing the needs of socioeconomically marginalized populations by ensuring equitable access to safe, affordable housing. Through collaboration, innovation, and relentless advocacy, we can build stronger partnerships, amplify our voice in policy discussions, and deliver comprehensive solutions that serve the diverse needs of the 8 million families we represent. I look forward to working alongside NAHRO’s members to turn our shared vision into reality for every community across this nation.”
Under Mathews’ guidance, Home Forward and its team of over 350 employees provide affordable housing for more than 18,000 households throughout Multnomah County. Their portfolio, which includes over 7,000 apartments, 11,000 Housing Choice Vouchers, and over 2,000 locally funded long-term and short-term rental assistance vouchers, stands as a testament to her leadership and the hope it brings to the community.
In 2023, Mathews was appointed by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek to the Housing Production Advisory Council (HPAC), a 25-member group tasked with creating a framework and proposing an action plan aimed at producing 36,000 additional housing units across all levels of affordability in the state. This initiative addresses Oregon’s ongoing housing shortage and aligns with the projected population growth. The resulting framework garnered bipartisan support, leading to the passage of HB 1537 by Oregon’s legislature in 2024, which approved $369 million in funding to tackle the state’s long-standing housing deficit.
In 2022, Mathews received the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Advocate of the Year Award in recognition of her legislative advocacy efforts. She has held various positions within NAHRO at the national, regional, and state chapter levels.
About NAHRO
NAHRO, which was established in 1933, is a membership organization of more than 26,000 housing and community development providers and professionals throughout the United States. NAHRO members create and manage affordable housing for low- and middle-income families, and support vibrant communities that enhance the quality of life for all. NAHRO members administer more than 3 million homes for more than 8 million people