[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 16 (Monday, January 29, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E88-E89]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING AUBREY PATINO'S DEDICATION TO THE NEEDIEST IN HER COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 29, 2024

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Aubrey Patino, 
the Executive Director of Avalon Housing in Ann Arbor, MI. After 
eighteen years with Avalon, including seven as ED, she is moving on. 
Her work in service to the homeless population of Washtenaw County is 
worthy of commendation.
  Aubrey graduated from Western Michigan University in 2004 before 
achieving her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan in 
2005. During this time, she was an assistant at the Michigan 
Neighborhood Partnership in Detroit as well as an intern with Avalon. 
Before coming onto Avalon's team full time, she was the Intensive Case 
Manager at the Downtown Emergency Service Center in Seattle, WA, where 
she dealt with Homeless Outreach and Transition.
  Aubrey joined the Avalon team in 2007 where she started as a Senior 
Property Manager. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the 
Housing Support Services Leader in 2010 and the Associate Director of 
Avalon Housing in 2012. In 2014, as one of five homeless services 
providers across the country, she was invited by the National Alliance 
to End Homelessness to complete the Transatlantic Practice Exchange, 
where she went to the United Kingdom and studied best practices in the 
field of housing and homelessness. Her experience in the UK still 
guides her work in Washtenaw County to this day.
  In 2017, Aubrey was selected as the new Executive Director of Avalon 
Housing. Her tenure at the helm has been a world of change and has been 
a boon to the homeless in her community. Aubrey's work on supportive 
housing funding has resulted in growing and innovative efforts. As a 
key member of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance, Aubrey helped develop the 
City of Ann Arbor's affordable housing millage ballot initiative, which 
citizens overwhelmingly supported. This millage provides a significant, 
ongoing source of financing for affordable housing development. Aubrey 
has also consistently advocated for harm reduction across the agency 
and the community, using a compassionate, evidence-based model for 
engaging people who struggle with substance use disorders. She 
continues to advocate for unarmed crisis responses at Avalon properties 
and throughout the community. Aubrey has also built productive 
relationships

[[Page E89]]

with local law enforcement. Aubrey's efforts have in turn led to Avalon 
providing full-time staff at the Washtenaw County jail to support 
returning citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognition of 
Aubrey Patino's hard work and dedication to the homeless community. 
Though we will miss her presence at Avalon, she has set them on a great 
path of success. We wish her the best in her future endeavors, and 
thank her for her service. I thank Aubrey.

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