Stephanie Hoffman, Founder & Executive Director

---

Stephanie D.  Hoffman is best known for her passion for inclusion, advocacy, housing wisdom, and her incredible heart for service.

Growing up in a large family in Muskegon Heights, Michigan, Ms. Hoffman has always had a heart to serve others. Her journey of service truly began at eighteen years old in 1987 when she enlisted in the United States Army. This would be the impetus for what will become her life’s work. She spent four plus years in active duty, serving at Fort Lewis Washington’s Madigan Army Medical Center as a Personnel Administration Specialist, then transferring to Frankfurt, Germany in 1991. 

In 1997, Ms. Hoffman returned to Muskegon, MI after living abroad in Germany. Upon her return, she began working for Trinity Village Non-Profit Housing Corporation, an arm of her home church, Holy Trinity Church of God in Christ, Inc., as an executive assistant. Ms. Hoffman quickly moved into the role of housing program manager, where she administered a homeownership program, working with first-time homebuyers in inner-city Muskegon. In 2001, Ms. Hoffman moved to Kalamazoo where she continued her work serving families, with two local agencies: Housing Resources Inc. and YWCA’s Domestic Assault Shelter. 

In 2006, she joined the Next Door Shelter for Women operated by Open Doors Kalamazoo. For almost 50 years, Open Doors Kalamazoo has been effectively providing affordable homes and supportive services tocreate long-term solutions to the housing crisis faced by working families and individuals in our community. Since joining the team at Open Doors, Ms. Hoffman has grown through the ranks of the organization; challenging internal and external systems, creating new models of supportive services for families and individuals as they navigate their relationship with self, family and society. Ms. Hoffman believes that everyone has a right to quality, affordable housing regardless of circumstance and past.

In 2018, Ms. Hoffman became the first black woman to lead the organization as executive director in Open Doors’ 50-year history of service. She is a change agent who practices cultural humility. Ms. Hoffman serves historically underrepresented community members oppressed by systems of privilege to assure the community members are provided the dignity, respect and love they deserve. For those who are led to believe they are undeserving of housing due to life circumstances, Ms. Hoffman reminds the community members they are beloved. She understands the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. She utilizes holistic culturally humble methods and solutions when working with people. She built and maintains strong relationships with community members, agency partners, residents, faith leaders, and public officials. She works to help address barriers and obstacles so that people are empowered to live their best lives and reach their full potential. She has the tenacity and fortitude to speak truth, healing and compassion to the Kalamazoo community and beyond. “I am excited to see Open Doors Kalamazoo grow stronger as we rise to the next level to meet the new and existing needs and challenges, we are facing in housing!”

Ms. Hoffman currently sits on multiple boards and committees. Some highlights include: 2nd Vice President of the Metro Kalamazoo Branch, NAACP; Co-chair of the Housing Task Force for Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy & Action in the Community (ISAAC); Board member, Foundation for Excellence (FFE); and Co-chair of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation’s Anti-Racism Transformation Team (ARTT