Mirtha Santana is a long-time resident of the low-income community of Bushwick Brooklyn, Mirtha knows from personal experience the impact of affordable housing. Her commitment to homelessness prevention stems from her deep belief that no child should be sleeping in a homeless shelter. Mirtha joined RiseBoro Community Partnership in 2007 and immersed herself in services for low-income, disenfranchised and homeless families. She also held positions in community outreach and workforce development. In her tenure, Mirtha has grown the programming and services immensely and now holds the position of Vice President of Riseboro’s Empowerment Division.
2020 Healthy Communities Fellow Mirth Santana and associate executive director for policy and advocacy at Citizens Committee for Children Raysa Rodriquez writes in the NY Daily News on the need to address homelessness as a way of tackling racism as 94% of the city’s shelter compromises of families made up of black and Latina women and children.