Partner Spotlight: Uche Okezie, Unsung Housing Hero

Uche Okezie, Real Estate Development Manager at HomeSight and a 2026 Housing WA Friend of Housing Award recipient, has been developing affordable housing for nearly a quarter century.  Uche is a manager through and through, solving problems, bringing together stakeholders, and doing the work that needs to be done to house the community. 

In an interview for the Black Home Initiative, Uche talks about the big milestones of her career. From the first project she ever worked on, to the projects that inspired new levels of coordination, to the project that faltered under one too many problems.

Uche reflects why it's important to support BIPOC developers, who are well positioned to offer the housing their community most needs, yet also have greater barriers to overcome. Uche looks back on how the regional housing ecosystem has changed over the last 24 years, and shares what bright spots are making her hopeful for a future with less competition and more collaboration.