The Seattle City Council confirmed the appointment of Ahmed Abdi to one of two resident positions on the Seattle Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners.
The seven-member SHA Board of Commissioners includes five at-large positions and two positions reserved for residents of the housing authority. Abdi will fill a seat left vacant by former resident commissioner Aser Ashkir. Commissioners are appointed to four-year terms by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council.
The Board oversees SHA policies and approves the agency’s annual budget. Members are also responsible for hiring the executive director, a position currently held by Andrew Lofton.
“Mr. Abdi brings substantial community engagement experience and has done significant work related to economic progress for low-income people,” Lofton said in a release. “He is a resident of New Holly, and I am excited that he is joining the board.”
Abdi is active in Seattle’s labor community as an outreach manager at the Fair Work Center and coordinator of the Fair Work Collaborative, a coalition of 10 organizations that educate workers on labor standards.
He has also been active for SHA tenants, organizing against a program called “Stepping Forward” that would have raised rents on SHA tenants progressively over time, noted Councilmember Kshama Sawant during his appointment hearing.
“Ahmed was a stalwart fighter for SHA’s low-income tenants,” Sawant said, “and I look forward to continuing to work with him to defend and expand tenants’ rights in this city and expand affordable housing in this city and with SHA.”
Abdi did not wish to be interviewed before he had begun his work with SHA, saying only that he was excited to be confirmed.