Up Close and Personal With Sherree Green
Sherree Green’s sister inspired her more than 35-year career in the affordable housing industry. Green said they were at a family picnic at Audubon Park in New Orleans. Her sister was working for a Catholic nonprofit which managed a Section 8 property at the time.
“She noticed a family going to the public restroom a lot and eating out of their car, and she said she thought they were homeless,” Green said. “She went over to talk to them and found out that they were homeless. We were there on a Saturday, and by the following Wednesday, they were living in an apartment. Seeing her dedication and compassion, I just knew I wanted to do it, too. People are so grateful when you can provide a place they can call home.”
Green followed in her sister’s footsteps, first working for a housing agency in 1990. By 2001, Green started at Willwoods Community Management, also a Catholic nonprofit in Metairie, La., where she has been serving as the compliance director since 2007.
When asked what she is proud of in her career, Green said, “When I see a manager or leasing agent I have trained moving up in their career path.”
Her early family life also helped shape the person she is today. Green, one of six children, grew up with a father, a carpenter, who had his own construction company. When she was around 12 or 13 years old, he began to let her help with the business, where she learned to do the taxes and payroll.
“I saw him build houses from the ground up. He would bring the blueprints home, and I would count how many pilings it needed,” Green said.
She said she learned to treasure her time off from her mom, saying, “She loved family time. Away from my job, I love time with my children and grandchildren.”
Green, married for 32 years, has five daughters and 20 grandchildren. Together, the family goes to the beach and spends Christmas week in a cabin in Tennessee. And on Sundays, there are New Orleans Saints parties during football season.
One of Green’s hobbies is interior decorating. Besides changing up her own house, Green has done some interior decorating for her mother-in-law and one of her daughters. It is also an interest that has spilled into her work. She staged the model unit at Carriage House Apartments.
“Every year I’m changing something in my house. I get tired looking at the color scheme or furniture,” she said. “It’s something I like doing. I like giving a room a new look — giving it that wow.”
Additionally, Green serves as the president of LAHMA. Technically, her term was set to end in July, but she has been asked to stay on for another year. The association is in a rebuilding phase and trying to recruit more members.
“We want to increase our marketing and get LAHMA to where it used to be,” she said.
Jennifer Jones is the senior director of communications and public relations for NAHMA.