The 2025 Habitat House Party

Framing the Future of Housing

presented by

Monday, November 10, 2025
Business/Cocktail Attire

Last year, Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County celebrated a momentous four decades of building homes and hope. In 2025, we build on that legacy—framing the future of housing with renewed vision and urgency.

We’re re-framing how we approach our work so we can maximize its powerful ripple effect. Through homebuilding, preservation, tenant-to-ownership conversion, and innovative approaches to scale, we’re redefining what homeownership looks like. We are also advancing policies that protect tenure of place, prevent displacement, and keep New Yorkers rooted in their communities. We often talk about the need for bold solutions to the housing crisis. This is what that looks like.

Transformative collective impact is made possible when we frame housing not only as shelter, but as a foundation for stability, equity, and opportunity. Join us as we honor the people and partnerships helping us forge pathways to permanently affordable homeownership—and help us frame the next chapter of housing justice.

Honoring

Jeanique Druses

Northeast Region Executive for Global Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase

Since 1990, JPMorgan Chase has played a critical role in advancing innovative housing solutions for Habitat affiliates across the U.S., increasing access to capital for underserved communities and promoting sustainable neighborhood growth. Through local grants, financing, and volunteer service, their partnership has vastly scaled Habitat’s impact. Jeanique Druses previously led the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) efforts to improve economic opportunities for residents. At JPMorgan Chase she leads transformative investments in affordable housing throughout New York, equipping communities of color to build intergenerational wealth and preserve affordable homeownership.

Maria Torres-Springer

Senior Fellow, Ford Foundation

Maria Torres-Springer has dedicated her career to public service, significantly expanding access to affordable housing and making a lasting difference for countless New Yorkers. As First Deputy Mayor, Maria oversaw record-breaking years for affordable housing creation in New York City and was instrumental in advancing the City of Yes, the city’s most ambitious pro-housing reform to date. Maria’s current role at the Ford Foundation extends her impact, supporting the organization’s commitment to tackling inequality nationwide. The Ford Foundation’s commitment to affordable housing as a driver of economic mobility and reduced disparities is helping to shape the future of housing justice in New York City and across the country. Maria has been named as President of the Charles H. Revson Foundation; she will assume the role in late 2025.

Erica F. Buckley

Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP

Erica F. Buckley is a longstanding advocate and champion for affordable homeownership, playing a pivotal role in advancing equitable housing solutions from City Hall to Albany and beyond. Her efforts in advancing the passage of New York’s Affordable Housing Retention Act, as well as her dedication to transforming rentals into ownership opportunities to address New York City’s shortage of affordable homes, have made a profound impact. Erica’s influence continues to shape the city’s affordable housing landscape and will resonate for years to come.

Pastor Josias and Helen Rodriguez

All Souls Evangelical Church

Pastor Josias and Helen Rodriguez are pillars of the Bronx community, blending compassionate spiritual leadership with impactful neighborhood initiatives. Their church, located next-door to our Vyse Ave development, has been a welcoming space for the Habitat team. Pastor Josias and Helen embraced Habitat’s presence in the neighborhood, offering thoughtful guidance to help us build trust and meaningful relationships within the community. Their support has made them indispensable collaborators in our efforts to create affordable homes and lasting change in the Bronx.

Featuring

Gina Brillon

Comedian, Actor, Motivational Speaker

We’re thrilled to welcome Gina Brillon as the host of this year’s Habitat House Party! Born and raised in the Bronx, Gina brings her signature New York humor, heart, and hustle to the stage. A Puerto Rican comedian, actor, writer, and motivational speaker, she’s been performing stand-up since she was 17 — with her Amazon Prime special The Floor is Lava earning a Gracie Award and her historic run as the first Latina finalist on America’s Got Talent making waves across the country

Her career spans appearances on The View, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and roles on Kevin Can Wait and The Conners. Offstage, Gina is a published poet and co-host of The State of: WOMEN, a podcast exploring gender equity across the U.S.

Rooted in the culture and community of NYC, Gina’s voice reflects the neighborhoods that raised her — and her commitment to uplifting others through laughter, storytelling, and advocacy.

DJ Tara

Artist, Urban Planner, Housing Advocate

We’re excited to welcome DJ Tara as our musical guest to kick off the Habitat House Party.

Tara is a Brooklyn born DJ & Urban Planner with a focus on community empowerment, cultural preservation, and nightlife advocacy. She’s performed live on TV as pre and post show DJ for the 93rd Academy Awards (2021) and is a co-founder of Donuts Are Forever, a tribute fundraiser in honor of the late producer J Dilla. Tara’s mission as a DJ is to amplify artists and uplift the crowds that engage with her sets on dance floors throughout NYC. She spins a collage of soulful sounds that captures an eclectic vibe. Tara produces mixes and hosts “misc.” on The Lot Radio in Brooklyn and” UpBeat” on Soho Radio in London, blending music that is both new and old, familiar and unknown, across eras, genres, and continents.