Meet Lakisha Collins-Bellamy, legal counsel for the Municipal Housing Authority of Yonkers.
Lakisha Collins-Bellamy remembers the day she moved into Cottage Place Gardens in the summer of 1985, but even more memorable was the day in November of 2007 when she returned for her first real job with the Yonkers Municipal Housing Authority.
“It was fate that I came to work for the Housing Authority,’’ said Lakisha., who currently serves as MHACY’s in-house counsel. “And it has been rewarding ever since.’’
Lakisha is a homegrown success by any account. An attorney who was admitted to the New York State Bar in June of 2019, she was appointed to serve on the Yonkers School Board this past summer. She holds a a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in political science.
The road to her success started at MHACY in 1997 when Lakisha was a college freshman and took a summer job with the housing authority. “As a 19-year-old I was so impressed with the people and the level of work that was being done. “I said ‘when I graduate, I’m coming to work here.’’
But her life would take some additional twists and turns before ending up at MHACY. While she was earning her master’s degree, Lakisha worked for the Westchester County Board of Elections, but was looking for a higher paying position to help support her infant son. Her cousin told her that a civil service test was being offered for a position at MHACY, but she initially missed the deadline for submitting the application.
“I thought it was over, but then she called me again to say that they reissued the test and I had better apply. It was really divine intervention that God opened that door again,’’ she said.
When the letter notifying her of the test scores arrived in the mail that day in September, Lakisha’s hands were shaking as she opened the envelope. She was praying while holding her son, who was only four-months old. Not only had she passed the test, but she was the top scorer!
“I said thank you Jesus, because not only did I want this job, I needed it to survive,’’ she said.
Lakisha worked her way through the ranks at MHACY. As the Director of Housing Programs, she oversaw daily operations of Section 8, Low Income Housing Tax Credit and Public Housing programs, eventually spearheading a software transition that improved the quality and increased the efficiency of customer service throughout the agency.
After attending the City of Yonkers Management Academy, Lakisha renewed her commitment to becoming a lawyer, and managed to finish law school part-time and summers in 3 instead of 4 years. Her son, Justin, then six, walked on the stage with her when she received her law degree.
When she took the bar exam, she knew she would pass after the question fatefully was one on housing law.
Now 13-years after taking her first job at the Housing Authority, Lakisha says she is grateful to all the people who helped her to achieve her goals, and that her career path brought her back to MHACY.
Still, my passion for law fueled me. After earning my law degree, I became MHACY’s attorney. In the past year, I implemented solutions that solved legal challenges and achieved business objectives, collaborating with our landlord tenant attorney to focus on MHACY goals, minimize delays and resolve over 100 legal cases. I partnered with cross-functional legal and business teams to save the agency over $100,000 in legal fees.
1985 moved in to Cottage Place Gardens summer while I was in college.. summer youth employee 1997 freshman year in college.. so impressed 19 years old.. when I graduate I’m coming to work here.. working at law firms to working for Westchester County I had my son.. working on my master’s degree not making enough money to make expenses… you know the housing authority was giving a test for he wasn’t even 1 at the time.. 3-3:15 break.. on the last day.. I had forgotten to go to the post office they reissued… again the last day.. forgot to go to the post office.. went to commissioner I needed money order.. I studied for about a week. It was so crowded.. seeing several people.. I take the test.. I went over it.. finally I leave.. I ran into a coworker.. It was easy.. people used the entire 8 hours.. results.. struggling to make ends meet.. calling civil service Sept. 13 results.. I’m working with my four month old son.. coming out of the building… I need it in order to survive.. Thank you Jesus.. open competitive Divine intervention.. God opened that door again.. Not knowing that there was no one… There were three positions… 13 years November 30 My first assignment was in Cottage Place Gardens. I was proud.. I always was indebted to Joe.. if it were not for Joe. November 30, 2007.
Rewarding ever since.. 2011 or 2012 sent to City of Yonkers management academy taught us government policies and practices.. capstone.. at the end of my presentation. I applied to law school, joe was very supportive and allowed me to leave work early went in the evening.. As a part time 4 years of law school. My classmates said you should take summer classes. Six year old.. you need to hurry up and get it over with.. on paper became full time 13 and 14 graduated in 3 years in stead of 4. At my law school grad my son walked with me across the stage.. property manager, compliance, to in house attorney.. When I took the bar exam.. a new topic of administrative law.. the issue was a housing authority question… grandmother and grandson.. and they terminated her assistance.. grandson was still on the property.. is that trespassing. 14 year-old Justin…
Mulford Gardens was the largest housing project and were going to tear it down and my mon’s oldest sister lived in Mulford.. moved out of the unit and went out of state. My aunt came back.. she refused to leave.. she was in the newspaper and news 12. All of Mulford left except.. my first day senior staff meeting.. she’s the squatters niece.. definitely I see the persistence and where it came from.. you don’t give up….
Twelve years ago, my life journey landed me at the same public housing site where I once lived — only this time, I was its manager.
My journey did not end there. I rose through the ranks, at Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers (MHACY), leading and inspiring a staff of more than 90 employees. As the Director of Housing Programs, I oversaw daily operations of Section 8, Low Income Housing Tax Credit and Public Housing programs, eventually spearheading a software transition that improved the quality and increased the efficiency of customer service throughout the agency.
Still, my passion for law fueled me. After earning my law degree, I became MHACY’s attorney. In the past year, I implemented solutions that solved legal challenges and achieved business objectives, collaborating with our landlord tenant attorney to focus on MHACY goals, minimize delays and resolve over 100 legal cases. I partnered with cross-functional legal and business teams to save the agency over $100,000 in legal fees.
When I discovered the majority of our vendor contracts had expired, I hustled to not only develop a new procurement standard but to execute 50+ contracts, all over $500,000. I stopped at nothing to ensure all contracts met our compliance standards as well as legal requirements.
I use innovation, big-picture solutions, and tactical legal strategy to recommend best practices that bolster performance. If chosen for your role, I would bring my superb communication skills, flexibility and strong work ethic to your company. Comfortable in dynamic environments, I would serve as a catalyst for legal strategies that drive your business forward.
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