CRAIG S. NICKERSON

President, National Community Stabilization Trust

Craig Nickerson serves as President of the National Community Stabilization Trust, a nationwide nonprofit organization created in 2008 to spur the revitalization of neighborhoods in the wake of the current housing crisis. The Stabilization Trust helps localities hard hit by foreclosures and abandonment by increasing access to foreclosed property and improving access to financing from participating financial institutions.   

From 1997 to 2008, Craig was Vice President of Expanding Markets for Freddie Mac. In this capacity, he was responsible for supporting the affordable housing needs of mortgage lenders, building housing industry partnerships to strengthen underserved communities and increasing homeownership opportunity. He was also responsible for nationwide implementation of all single-family affordable housing lending initiatives at Freddie Mac.

Prior to joining Freddie Mac, Craig worked for Secretary of HUD Henry Cisneros as Coordinator of the “National Partners in Homeownership”, a broad-based, public-private partnership involving 65 national organizations, designed to measurably increase homeownership opportunity for underserved populations in America.     

Craig has held leadership roles in the community development arena for over 40 years. He served as Executive Director of the City of Boston, Office of Housing, administering all citywide affordable housing initiatives. Craig subsequently worked at HUD in Washington, DC as National Director of Housing Rehabilitation, managing such housing programs as the Rental Rehabilitation Program, Urban Homesteading, and CDBG. He also has served as President/CEO of Community Development Financial Corporation, a nationwide mortgage financing and financial services firm, and as President of the Nickerson Group, a housing and community development consultant firm.

Craig is also the author of numerous publications regarding neighborhood revitalization and affordable lending, co-authored the National Homeownership Strategy for the Clinton Administration, developed the Catch the Dream and Don’t Borrow Trouble campaigns for Freddie Mac, and has served on numerous national boards and advisory panels, and proudly serves as a NAHREP Ambassador.