A B O U T
Principal Bio’s
Collectively, the Housing Development Team’s (HDT) principals worked on the creation of more than 3,500 units of affordable housing throughout the region utilizing diverse funding sources including, federal, state, local and private financing and investments.
The firm’s principals have developed a “team” approach to completing housing development activities by working on projects on an individual basis and tailoring a development strategy to the specific needs of the project. Experienced in feasibility analysis, successfully securing financing and the ability to adjust to the changing funding climate, HDT has developed a method to navigate the development process efficiently and within budget.
Jenifer Svelnys – Principal
As a principal partner for HDT, Jen is responsible for delivering Housing Development consulting services to a variety of clients from non-profit housing developers to for-profit throughout the state of Connecticut. Jen has comprehensive knowledge of the underwriting requirements of the various CHFA and DOH programs and the technical expertise necessary to complete the CHFA-DOH Consolidated Application process. Jen has a successful track record of securing competitive financing from a variety of sources on behalf of her clients. Jen works tirelessly in order to bring developments to successful closings and maintains that effort throughout the development process into final occupancy. She works extremely well with negotiations between development team members in order to produce the best quality development within the budget. She is also very skilled in making sure that affordable developments are designed and constructed thoughtfully for the target population and neighborhood.
Prior to co-founding HDT, Jen has held a variety of development positions with organizations such as, Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern Connecticut, The Hollow Community Development Corporation, and The Human Services Council. Jen holds a Master’s Degree from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Bridgeport.
Kent A. Lewis Jr. – Principal
As principal partner for HDT, Kent brings to the organization a substantial amount of previous experience working with non-profits, for profit developers, public housing authorities and municipalities throughout Connecticut and other parts of the country. He has utilized numerous federal, state and local funding sources available for affordable housing development. One of Kent’s strengths is his ability to prepare work plans and feasibility strategies to develop a succinct, organized process for determining the best approach for successfully financing and developing affordable housing. He has also been extremely successful in obtaining funding for new programs in their first round of funding availability.
Prior to co-founding HDT, Kent held a variety of development positions, including the Director of Development with Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern Connecticut and project manager for The Community Builders, Inc. Kent earned a Master’s of Urban Planning and BA in Design/Facility Management from the State University of NY at Buffalo. Kent is also involved with various non-profit activities outside of HDT. He is the Moderator/Chair of the Trumbull Congregational Church and also sits on the Board of Directors of Friends of Appalachia (FOA). Through FOA, for the last several years, he has assisted in leading approximately 85 youths to the Appalachia Region to improve housing along with the Appalachia Service Project.