Mission

Executive Director

Jay Young leads Southwest Fair Housing Council as Executive Director. A passionate advocate for fair housing, Jay's commitment extends beyond his role. He actively contributes on the City of Tucson Planning Commission and Commission on Equitable Housing and Development, as well as the National Fair Housing Alliance board.

Jay's academic background strengthens his expertise. He holds a Master's in Planning from the University of Arizona, where he was a Peace Corps Fellow. This, combined with his Bachelor's in History from the University of North Carolina, equips him to understand historical contexts, social dynamics, and implement innovative solutions to housing challenges.

Manager of Operations and Investigations

Tasha has over a decade of experience in fair housing advocacy. During that time, she contributed to greater equity at the Denver Metro Fair Housing Center and, as of recently, Southwest Fair Housing Council. Her academic accomplishments further augment her expertise. She holds an undergraduate degree in Anthropology, which has given her a unique perspective on understanding the complexities of human societies. Additionally, Tasha earned a Master of Science in Urban Planning, enhancing her ability to execute effective strategies to address housing disparities and foster inclusive communities.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Tasha is a devoted parent to three children and shares her home with a dog and two cats. In her leisure time, she embraces the joys of family life and tends to her beloved pets.

Director of Education & Outreach

Cheri Horbacz is a seasoned professional who has led the Education & Outreach program at Southwest Fair Housing Council (SWFHC) since 2006. As a Certified Statewide Instructor, she is dedicated to eliminating illegal discrimination in housing and abusive financial practices, safeguarding community housing rights.

With over eight years of experience in the mortgage industry, including management roles in Origination, Training, Fraud Investigation, and Prevention, Cheri brings valuable expertise to her role at SWFHC. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Arizona and an Associate's degree from Pima Community College in Business. Furthermore, Cheri is a Certified Instructor with the Arizona Department of Real Estate, highlighting her commitment to promoting fairness and integrity in the real estate sector.

Director of Enforcement

Prior to becoming the Director of Enforcement, Erica attended the UA, majoring in Anthropology and developing a concern for social justice. While working in the housing market as both a rental agent and property manager, her interest in fair housing issues led her to the SWFHC. After joining SWFHC, Erica began working in the Enforcement program and over the years, has been involved in numerous housing investigations. These investigations include two national testing projects, the Housing Discrimination Study and the Public Accommodations Enforcement Testing Project.

Erica spends her free time with her dog Joey, named after the influential heavyweight champion, Joe "the Brown Bomber" Louis.

Client Advocate

Shannon Simone Hayes is an AZ Certified Community Legal Advocate and Client Advocate with SWFHC, bringing direct experience in tenant representation, eviction diversion, and housing stability navigation.

A CCLA Peer Mentor through UofA's Innovation for Justice program and co-founder of the Fair Housing Training Institute, Shannon works at the intersection of legal access, community education, and systems-level advocacy. She is the author of The State of Evictions in Arizona and The State of Black Evictions in Arizona 2025 reports and creator of Just US Navigator, a bilingual housing stability platform for tenants and advocates statewide. Her background spans fair housing investigation, NAACP civic engagement leadership, and over two decades of community organizing.

Shannon is completing her Bachelor of Arts in Law at the University of Arizona. She is dedicated to ensuring that frontline workers and their clients have the resources they need to succeed.

Program Assistant

Stella Perez brings over 20 years of experience in higher education, counseling, and community program planning. She has served as a Resource Navigator for the Tempe Community Action Agency and as a case manager supporting families with housing and financial counseling. Stella now advances fair housing and budget development as Program Assistant at SWFHC.

At the national level, Stella held leadership roles with community colleges and associations focused on multicultural outreach and underserved populations. She led teams on Child/Parent Initiatives for workforce development, Education Technology Programs to address the Social Digital Divide, and Communications Outreach projects involving content creation across digital and print platforms.

A bilingual Arizona native and first-generation college student, Dr. Perez earned a Bachelor of Science from the Eller College of Business at the University of Arizona, a Master of Arts in Education Technology from NAU, and a Ph.D. in Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

Test Coordinator

Julie Donnan is the Testing Coordinator at the Southwest Fair Housing Council, where she develops and oversees investigations enforcing fair housing laws.

Julie earned a BA in Communication and an MEd in Curriculum & Instruction from Arizona State University. She began her career in property management and real estate development, gaining firsthand experience in the housing industry. After the 2008 housing market crash, Julie shifted to education before returning to housing through nonprofit advocacy.

Before joining SWFHC, Julie was a Housing Navigator, helping people experiencing homelessness find stable housing through the Rapid Rehousing program. Her work across property management, development, homelessness services, and fair housing has given her a broad perspective on housing barriers and strengthened her commitment to equal housing opportunity.

Outside work, Julie enjoys caring for houseplants and spending time with her son.