Kristin Horne
Executive Director
Kristin is Here To Stay’s Executive Director. She has worked to provide equitable housing for both homeowners and renters for 20 years. She began partnering with Here to Stay while working as Housing Development Manager for CMHDC where she put financing in place to purchase and rehab single family homes including Here to Stay’s first acquisition. Since joining Here to Stay in 2021 as the first employee, she has grown the portfolio from 1 property to 24, totalling 47 units,and helped to raise over $9 million.
At CMHDC she oversaw acquisition and development of multifamily buildings, preserving affordability and allowing existing tenants to remain in their homes. At Neighborhood Housing Services she managed disposition of foreclosed homes, prioritizing sales to community members over investors. At Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago she helped organize free home repairs for seniors and families, helping them to remain safely in their homes, and worked with corporate foundations to provide upgrades to community centers and non-profits throughout the Chicago area.
All of these experiences guided her to Here to Stay where she can apply these skills to grow the land trust and help residents establish permanent roots through homeownership. Kristin’s other passions include her family, listening to live music, reading and cooking.
Lucy Gomez-Feliciano
Community Engagement Director
Housing, and more specifically affordable housing, has been something I have cared about for a long time. My insight into housing has evolved due to my engagement with campaigns led and or supported by the Palenque LSNA (formerly the Logan Square Neighborhood Association) where I worked for a total of sixteen years.
Over the last thirty years, my experience as a professional has been shaped by the richness of the people and communities that I have had the privilege of working with. I have worked on issues such as unraveling the complexity of childhood obesity through a public health lens by inviting local, city, and state institutions to work together. I lead a team of peer educators (former Parent Mentors) who facilitated evidence-based curriculums to immigrant mothers. Before transitioning to Here to Stay, I managed the Ladders of Opportunity Program within the Parent Engagement Institute’s Parent Mentor Program, supporting partners across the state of Illinois who coach parents pursuing their education and/or career goals.
My strong sense of integrity and accountability have been drivers in my work to address social injustices. I have an unapologetic sense of curiosity that allows me to explore resources and to see possibilities. I earned my bachelor’s in fine arts from the University of Illinois in Chicago, a volunteer board member with various organizations, a proud product of Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood and a current homeowner in Logan Square, where my daughter and I live today.
Mia Carbajal
Director of Special Projects
Mia Carbajal has more than a decade of experience in affordable housing policy, community organizing, and community land trust development. Born in Peru and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, her experiences witnessing displacement and gentrification in San Francisco’s Mission District shaped her commitment to advancing community-driven solutions that promote neighborhood stability and long-term affordability.
Before joining Here to Stay, Mia was a founding staff member of a community land trust in Richmond, California, where she led real estate development efforts and helped grow the organization’s portfolio through innovative acquisition strategies, public-sector partnerships, and policy advocacy.
Since joining Here to Stay, she has helped expand the portfolio to nearly 50 permanently affordable homes. She leads project management for construction and real estate development, securing development funding, coordinating new construction projects, and supporting strategic growth initiatives. Mia also leads the organization’s board development efforts, strengthening community governance through resident leadership.
Mia is passionate about developing practical strategies that increase community ownership, preserve long-term affordability, and equip residents with the tools to shape the future of their neighborhoods. She holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and has completed professional training through the California Community-Owned Real Estate Program and the National Development Council.