Helen Harris
HELEN HARRIS has more than ten years of experience in social and housing policy and program delivery. She holds a deep understanding of community housing having focused her career in various frontline, policy and leadership roles in this sector. She is currently Principal of Housing Policy and Research with SHS Consulting where she manages interdisciplinary project teams on a diverse range of housing and policy research projects. Prior to holding this role, Helen spent over five years working at the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA) where she led organizational priorities and provided strategic direction through major sectoral shifts. Before this, Helen worked in a variety of frontline community housing roles with the YWCA Toronto and the Bruce County Housing Corporation.
Helen holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wilfird Laurier University. Helen has also completed her Chartered Housing Professional Designation through the Chartered Institute of Housing Canada. Helen is a new mom and lives in East York with her family.
"Abiona Centre not only gave me the ability to care for my child, but the motivation to get what I wanted for my life - to have my daughter with me and to live independently."
Abiona Centre is a client-centred infant and early childhood mental health organization which supports pregnant and parenting adolescents, aged 13 – 25.