Farewell to a Housing Innovator

Today we say our goodbyes to a housing innovator. Piedmont Housing Alliance saw several staff additions and changes in the last year, one being the addition of Melissa Yuille, as our Housing Counseling and Economic Empowerment Director. We were deeply saddened to learn of her death on January 21.

Prior to joining our staff, Melissa spent 18 years as the Director of Housing Counseling Services for Lynchburg Community Action Group. In that role, she managed the organization’s housing counseling, transitional housing, emergency assistance, VIDA, foreclosure, home ownership, and financial literacy programs.

She has held leadership positions with the Virginia Association of Housing Counselors and was a certified comprehensive housing counselor, financial fitness instructor, post-purchase counselor, foreclosure counselor, housing counseling manager, USDA 502 loan packager, and VHDA Homeownership Education trainer.

Melissa saw her move to the Charlottesville-area as a fresh start in her life and during her tenure at Piedmont Housing Alliance, contributed new ideas and energy to an amazing housing counseling team, began a Home Buyer Club and quickly became a part of the Charlottesville community as a member of Leadership Charlottesville and as Vice Chair of the Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless (TJACH) Board.