In this installment of our ongoing Housing and... series, we explore how data can deepen our understanding of housing needs, inform more strategic decision-making, and move from numbers, to narrative, to action.
“Housing and…” is CHFA’s interview series that explores how housing connects with and influences various sectors that shape our communities. From health to education to economic opportunity and beyond, each installment features insights from thought leaders in their respective fields, helping to highlight the critical role housing plays in shaping broader societal outcomes. In this installment, we talk with Fionnuala “Finn” Darby-Hudgens, Director of Data Strategic Planning at CTData Collaborative.
Marcus Smith: I’d love to hear from you what your journey was like getting to where you are now. How did you find yourself interested in data and in housing at the same time?
Finn Darby-Hudgens: I went to college thinking I was going to teach second grade. I was like, “Yes, I’m going to come in Michelle Pfeiffer-style and solve public education.” By junior year, I realized there was nothing I could do about education unless I worked in housing.
And don’t guess. It’s more powerful to say, “We don’t have that information,” or “That’s unclear,” than to make an incorrect assumption.
FDH: We’ve done a good job of that in some cases, and had challenges in others. In your example, we must be clear about what’s apples-to-apples (they’re both Eastern seaboard cities, they have industrial histories) and what makes Connecticut unique and harder to compare (we have no regional or county governance).
MS: I’ve heard you mention CTData is working on a dozen or so housing-related initiatives, and a priority is helping organizations build internal capacity: “So you’re collecting data, now what?” What data gaps do you see?