Virginia Statewide Community Land Trust (VSCLT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to develop and maintain permanently affordable homeownership opportunities for low and moderate-income households.
Created in 2020, VSCLT is the first Community Land Trust in Virginia designed to operate statewide. We currently operate in a large number of jurisdictions including Fairfax County, Fauquier County, Loudoun County and others.
Staff
Michelle Winters, Chief Executive Officer
Michelle joined VSCLT as CEO in 2024 after serving as a board member since 2021. Michelle is a housing policy and strategy expert with experience leading organizations and programs at the local and national level focused on affordability, sustainability, and innovation in the housing system. She served most recently as Acting Director of Loudoun County’s Department of Housing and Community Development and Executive Director of the Alliance for Housing Solutions in Arlington. She previously served as a visiting fellow for housing at the Urban Land Institute and held positions at NeighborWorks America, LISC, and Fannie Mae. Michelle has served as a member and chair of Arlington’s Housing Commission and as a board member at HousingForward Virginia and the Langston Boulevard Alliance. She received her BA in Urban Affairs from Virginia Tech and her Masters in City Planning from MIT.
Board of Directors
Officers
Jim Russell, Chair
Jim is a geographer at Rust Belt Analytica. Jim studies long cycle economic change, innovation, migration, and geopolitics. He is currently the chair of Loudoun Habitat for Humanity’s board and the Loudoun County Housing Advisory Board. He and his family have lived in Leesburg, Virginia for over a decade after moving from the Greater Denver area in Colorado.
Brian Cameron, Secretary
Brian is a J.D. candidate at the University of Virginia School of Law with an anticipated graduation date of May 2025. Previously, he served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at Habitat for Humanity Virginia, where he researched and developed statewide programs including a capital fundraising campaign, loan fund, and the VSCLT. Brian received his B.A. in Political and Social Thought in 2019 from the University of Virginia, where he wrote his senior thesis about segregation, gentrification, and affordable housing in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Ivy Johnson, Treasurer
Ivy joined Habitat NOVA in 2018. Ivy is responsible for controls and budgets designed to mitigate risk, maintain the accuracy of financial results, cash management, as well as operational and management reporting. In addition, she manages family programs operations. Before joining our team, Ivy spent eleven years with Habitat for Humanity in Charlotte. Ivy brings almost 25 years of accounting experience to the organization; she is a Certified Public Accountant in Virginia and has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
Marcia Elaine Joseph, Vice President
Marcia currently serves as Project Manager for Habitat for Humanity Virginia, Vice Chair Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals, Junior Warden Trinity Episcopal Church, Religious Committee member local branch NAACP.
Her past accomplishments include: sole owner Joseph Associates LLC, Landscape Architecture/Planning firm, Albemarle County Architecture Review Board member and former Chair, Albemarle County Planning Commission member and former Chair, Albemarle County Acquisition of Conservation Easements member, Albemarle County Design Planner and Zoning staff member, City of Charlottesville Zoning Administrator, Greater Charlottesville Habitat Board member, Habitat Virginia Board member and former Chair.
Board Members
Overton McGehee
Overton is Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Virginia. Habitat for Humanity of Virginia, as the state office of Habitat for Humanity International, supports the efforts of local affiliates by providing training, technical assistance, and other resources that will empower them to serve their clientele more effectively and efficiently. Habitat Virginia also advocates at state and national levels for legislation and funding to expand affordable housing options across Virginia.
Melanie Burch
Melanie is President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Fauquier County, having served in various leadership positions for the organization since 2019.
John McCarthy
John is Senior Adviser and Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Piedmont Environmental Council. John’s specialties include zoning and land use, land conservation, local government administration, personnel, purchasing, intergovernmental relations. He has served in several senior government roles including as County Administrator, Chief Administrative Officer and Zoning Administrator for Rappahannock County, Virginia.
Judy Singer
Judy is President & CEO of Loudoun County Habitat for Humanity. She previously worked as a Senior Director for the Fellowship Square Foundation.
Markus Crewe
Markus is Vendor Relations Coordinator for Prince William County Government and was previously the President/Chief Executive Officer at Habitat for Humanity Prince William County. He has a master’s degree in public policy from George Mason University with a concentration in public health. He is an advocate for affordable housing and food security for families in need and continues to strive to push for efficient and equitable policies that better serve the community he has called home for many years. He is also a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.