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Alex Alsup
Director at Rocket Community Fund
Professional Background
Alex Alsup is a highly regarded professional in the realm of land use and housing stability, currently serving as the Director of Housing Stability at the Quicken Loans Community Investment Fund. In his role, Alex skillfully combines direct outreach and innovative data analysis to address some of the most pressing housing challenges facing Detroit today. His commitment to improving housing stability has made a significant impact on the community, showcasing his ability to develop effective policies and processes aimed at alleviating critical land use issues.
Before joining Quicken Loans, Alex honed his leadership skills and product development expertise as the Chief Product Officer at LOVELAND Technologies. Here, he was instrumental in overseeing the design and evolution of the Site Control enterprise SaaS platform. This platform gained notable recognition for its role in conducting the first citywide property survey of Detroit, a groundbreaking initiative during a time when the city was undergoing the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history. Alex's hands-on experience in tackling complex problems has equipped him with a robust set of skills that he leverages to this day in his current position.
In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities, Alex is an innovative thinker and community advocate, known for creating GooBing Detroit—a visual resource that documents how the tax foreclosure crisis has affected Detroit’s housing stock. GooBing Detroit has become a reference point for many seeking to understand the intricate relationships between tax policies and housing stability in urban environments. Alex's work exemplifies his deep fascination with complex systems, property taxes, and the utilization of technology—especially tools like Google Street View—to better visualize and understand land use challenges.
Education and Achievements
Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in English Language and Literature from Skidmore College, where he developed a strong foundation in effective communication and critical thinking. These skills have undoubtedly supported him throughout his career as he navigates the intricate landscape of public policy and community development.
His contributions to the community and the field of housing stability have not gone unnoticed. Alex was recognized as the Civic Leader of the Year by the United Community Housing Coalition—an accolade that highlights his tireless efforts and dedication to promoting housing solutions in Detroit. Furthermore, he has published several works related to his research and insights into land use and housing, and his expertise has led him to present at prestigious forums, including the World Bank Land & Poverty Conference and the Detroit Neighborhood Forum, where he shares his innovative ideas and solutions with a broader audience.
Achievements
- Director of Housing Stability at Quicken Loans Community Investment Fund: Currently leading initiatives aimed at tackling housing instability in Detroit.
- Chief Product Officer at LOVELAND Technologies: Oversaw the development of the Site Control platform and conducted the first citywide property survey of Detroit.
- Creator of GooBing Detroit: Developed a visual resource that illustrates the impacts of the tax foreclosure crisis on Detroit’s housing stock, becoming a crucial reference in the field.
- Civic Leader of the Year: Awarded by the United Community Housing Coalition for exceptional community service and commitment to housing stability.
- Public Speaker and Contributor: Presented at significant conferences such as the World Bank Land & Poverty Conference, sharing valuable insights and advocating for innovative solutions in land use and housing policies.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Alex’s personal interests include a notable passion for music, particularly as a dedicated aficionado of the Wu-Tang Clan, further showcasing his diverse tastes and interests. This blend of professional dedication and personal passion reflects the multifaceted nature of Alex Alsup, making him a valuable asset to any community he serves, and an influential leader in the field of housing stability and land use solutions.
Highlights
Many thanks to the State Court Report of the Brennan Center for Justice for publishing this piece I wrote on an impending and consequential Michigan Supreme Court tax foreclosure ruling.
At stake is whether Michigan counties must refund hundreds of millions of dollars in windfall tax foreclosure auction profits reaped before 2020. A ruling in favor of retroactivity wouldn't help one-time homeowners, but rather speculators, landlords, & financial institutions who had large property portfolios.
Regardless of the decision, it will do nothing to address the far larger source of profit for Michigan County Treasurers: The statutory 18% interest (compounded annually), penalties, and fees paid by delinquent taxpayers in the state.
Quick screenshot preview of one of the maps for this Thursday's Regrid webinar on our report looking at non-local ownership of U.S. housing stock, Owned Away From Home.
A map + swipe for comparing out of state ownership of housing stock by census tract (left half of the map) in Pittsburgh and in-state but out of zip code ownership (right half of the map). Nice little function in Esri's ArcGIS Briefings app.
Register for the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/gBq49fMR
