CHO Team
Jocelyn Ayer
Director, Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity
Jocelyn Ayer has lived and worked in Litchfield County for the last 15 years. Prior to becoming the Director of Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity she served as Community and Economic Development Director for the Northwest Hills Council of Governments where she worked with 21 towns in the region to plan and implement their land use, housing, and economic development initiatives. She has worked with 16 municipalities in the region to develop municipal housing plans and provides staff support to the Northwest Connecticut Regional Housing Council. Over the last two decades Jocelyn has been involved in all stages of housing development from planning to construction, financing, and operations. She has a Master’s degree in Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Melissa Kaplan-Macey
Chief Initiative Officer, Center for Housing Opportunity
Melissa Kaplan-Macey is an expert in affordable housing, public policy, urban planning, and community engagement. As a member of the Housing Collective’s senior leadership team, Melissa guides the Housing Collective’s housing affordability practice and leads the Centers for Housing Opportunity, which works regionally in Fairfield County, Litchfield County and Eastern CT.
Melissa has extensive experience building collaborative relationships with community and cross-sector partners to leverage resources and implement projects and programs. She currently serves on the Connecticut legislature’s Majority Leaders’ Roundtable on affordable housing. She has served as co-chair of Governor Lamont’s transition transportation policy committee, a member of the Commission on Connecticut’s Future and Development’s affordable housing plans working group, and a member of Governor Lamont’s Fairfield County Transit Oriented Development Taskforce. Melissa received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and her Masters in Planning from New York University.
Lindsey Larson
Program Manager, Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity
Lindsay Larson is the Program Manager at the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity and has lived and worked in Litchfield County for over a decade. Prior to joining LCCHO she spent 4.5 years managing conservation projects and programs at the Housatonic Valley Association, working with towns and organizations throughout the Housatonic River watershed. Lindsay has strong ties to Litchfield County and is passionate about building more sustainable communities with a diversity of housing options. She has a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Connecticut.
Beth Sabilia
Director, Center for Housing Equity and Opportunity Eastern CT
Beth Sabilia is the Director of the Center for Housing Equity and Opportunity Eastern CT. Beth is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and Suffolk University Law School. She was in the private practice of law for more than 26 years, all in New London. Beth most recently served as a Selectwoman for the Town of Waterford, a two-term member of the Waterford Representative Town Meeting), and served as a member of the town’s Board of Finance.
Beth acted for two terms as the Mayor of the City of New London and a six-term member of the City Council, where she chaired the Economic Development Committee for more than four years. She was the liaison to the Redevelopment Commission and the Planning & Zoning Commission. Beth also served on the New London Board of Education, acting as its Vice-President and President, and a former Commissioner of the New London Housing Authority.
Her numerous volunteer activities include acting as the former President of the Board of Trustees of the Bulkeley School Fund, as the Chair of the Waterford Democratic Town Committee, and in roles in community organizations such as the Girl Scouts of America, Waterford Little League, the Board of Trustees of Connecticut College, and the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Living. She is a current member of Waterford RISE (Residents for Inclusion and Social Equity).
Beth is married to Al Dahl, a union pipefitter, and between them, they have four children. Beth prides herself on being open and accessible and strongly encourages all to get in touch.
Beth@thehousingcollective.org | (860) 961-2622
Christie Stewart
Senior Advisor, Center for Housing Opportunity
Christie Stewart serves as a Senior Advisor the Center for Housing Opportunity. Christie is an experienced non-profit leader with a focus on systems change and a successful track record of creating and facilitating strategic partnerships that drive innovative and equitable solutions to social challenges, including housing poverty and homelessness. She is the former Director of Fairfield County’s Center for Housing Opportunity, and former Chief Initiative Officer of the Center for Housing Opportunity.