Speakers

Appointed as DOH commissioner in December 2023, Lissette Casta'eda has two decades of experience in affordable housing development, housing services, and organizational leadership. Casta'eda is tasked with streamlining the affordable housing development process as per Mayor Brandon Johnson's executive order and expanding homeownership to Chicagoans in historically disinvested communities. Prior to DOH, Casta'eda served as the Executive Director for LUCHA, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counseling agency as well as a Community Housing Development Organization since 2019, overseeing its affordable real estate portfolio and leading implementation of its strategic plan. Casta'eda also served as the Interim Executive Director and the Director of Community Engagement for the Center for Changing Lives, where she worked to expand economic opportunities and revitalize neighborhoods across Chicago. Casta'eda has served on a number of boards including Palenque LSNA, Chicago Housing Trust, Illinois Housing Council and the Chicago Rehab Network. For Casta'eda, stable, affordable housing is a cornerstone of community safety, economic development and mental health. She is honored to serve in this role where she can spearhead new housing developments while ensuring Chicagoans have the services they need to stay in their homes for the long term.