Pronouns: He/Him. Tom is a Housing Development Manager at The Kelsey, managing the business development pipeline, leading technical assistance projects, and supporting asset management and financial feasibility matters. A lawyer by trade, Tom is a 2015 graduate of the University of Miami School of Law and is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, the District of Columbia, and Florida. After practicing regulatory law for three years, Tom obtained his Real Estate Investment Certificate from Harvard Extension School, propelling him into the real estate development world. Tom joined The Kelsey after three years as a Development Associate for Capitol Seniors Housing, which focused on development of assisted living communities across the country. A few years into his career, Tom experienced an injury which has left him with permanent disabilities; through this challenge, Tom has come to know first-hand the structural obstacles that many people face when it comes to finding housing, and he has dedicated himself to identifying, confronting, and breaking down these obstacles. A Boston native and graduate of Boston College, Tom now resides in Fort Lauderdale, FL with his husband and their three dogs.
What part of The Kelsey’s mission are you proudest to be part of / support?
I am most proud of supporting The Kelsey’s missions of being “Radically Inclusive” and “Disability-Forward” in the development of housing. It is my sincere, core belief that housing is not solely about providing shelter; indeed, having a place to call “home” is an essential element of human dignity. We have a duty as a society to uphold and respect the dignity of every person, especially those living with disabilities. And The Kelsey’s mission is dedicated to working toward that end.
What does it mean to you to be Disability-Forward? Why does it matter?
To me, “Disability-Forward” means setting the stage for true equity for persons living with disabilities. In other words, ensuring that they have the tools and resources in place to surmount obstacles and live their version of their fullest lives. Whether it’s on a small scale or a more big-picture structural scale, it’s important that persons living with disabilities have a fair opportunity to become the fullest versions of themselves. Having stable housing is crucial to providing that fair opportunity. This matters because everybody facing hardship, including those living with disabilities, has so much to offer this world – and it’s in our best interest as a society to set them up to be able to do so.
