Rita Edwards
Consultant, Rural Housing Collaborative
What I do at the RLC: I serve as a consultant/contractor to complete production of the Rural Housing Playbook. The Playbook project was initiated in 2005 funded by a Rural Housing and Economic Development grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A group of housing resource providers and experts across the state of SD have joined to share information and best practices that, along with information gathered as a result of RLC research, will make up the Playbook - a process manual for housing development in rural areas.
Hometown: Grew up in Belle Fourche, SD, and have settled in Madison, SD (via TX, MD, WA, and OR)
What I wanted to be when I was little: I wanted to be a cowgirl. I think I've achieved the spirit of that goal by growing up to be an independent maverick of sorts.
Interesting previous job(s) I've held: Most recently, I spent 8 years with Fannie Mae in South Dakota, sourcing investment opportunities, working closely with the state's lending community, housing developers, real estate professionals, homebuyer education providers and other professionals involved in affordable housing finance and development. Prior to that I practiced law in rural Eastern Oregon, and am licensed to practice in SD, WA and OR. I also served as a law clerk to the general counsel of the Enterprise Foundation, a national affordable housing nonprofit.
My volunteer activities have included service on the boards of directors of the Dakota Nation Housing Development Corporation (serving the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse (SD & ND) Reservation); Habitat for Humanity - South Dakota, Inc.; Habitat for Humanity of East Central SD; Sioux Empire Housing Partnership; South Eastern Development Foundation; and Prairie Repertory Theatre, Inc.
A place I want to visit at least once in my lifetime: Alaska (in the summer!)
Favorite rainy day activity: Reading a great book, drinking a cup of tea, eating a gingersnap cookie, and holding my cat Fred on my lap.
