West Central Reporter

Two and a half years working for the Brown County Housing Authority (BCHA) has been an eye-opening experience for Sarah Allen.

“I quickly learned that affordable housing is an ongoing need in our community for many families,” Allen told West Central Reporter. “I chose to work for the Brown County Housing Authority to learn more about the needs of our community and become a familiar face to all residents that can rely on me to be a resource to those that are seeking information about safe and affordable housing and other things that are available in our town.”

Allen was hired as an occupancy specialist for BCHA in November 2016. She handles applicant and tenant interactions and paperwork, works with HUD and rural development systems and enforces their policies, and handles some billing and accounting.

BCHA occupancy specialist Sarah Allen

“My favorite thing about my job is interacting and building relationships with the tenants,” Allen said. “I enjoy being able to stop and visit with them when I am on-site. I firmly believe that having a one-on-one relationship with them keeps my job easier and their living environment in housing more pleasant. It's also nice to have that open communication to ensure that rules are being followed.”

Allen hopes to continue to help those in the community seeking long-term affordable housing.

“Our authority has an abundance of one-bedroom units, however, a good portion of our applicants are families with children that need multiple-bedroom units,” she said. “Hopefully, in the near future, we will be able to accommodate these families quicker with more family-unit availability.”

Allen, currently a resident of Mt. Sterling, was born and raised in Quincy. She is a senior at Western Illinois University and has held various job positions in customer service, managerial and office support. In her spare time, Allen enjoys spending time with her children, conversing with her significant other, listening to various podcasts, cleaning and supporting small businesses.

“I love that my community is thriving in its small businesses,” Allen said. “I believe in supporting these businesses, and shopping local is a service that we can all partake in to help our communities grow.”