After finding
homes for her clients with Section 8 vouchers,
Jess Oknin helps families become more involved in their
communities by teaching them about a free sports league where
their children can make friends and learn valuable leadership
skills. Through her time volunteering with Volo Sports, she
has been able to watch the children of the Boston area not only
grow in their abilities but also in their
confidence.
As a busy
real estate professional, how do you stay engaged in philanthropy?
Why is giving back a priority?
I am passionate about my long-standing volunteerism
with Volo Sports, a program that provides free
access to quality sports programming for youth which fosters not
only athletic ability but also social skills and community
building. This is an important and worthy program whereby children
have a safe space, each week, to engage in fun and exciting
athletic activities but also can develop confidence as individuals
and learn to become strong leaders. It is a remarkable program and
each year I can see the growth in the returning children season
after season. These sessions are the highlight of my week and I
prioritize attending. Last year, I still made it to practice to
support the kids less than 48 hours after my ACL surgery (see
photo). I want to be someone consistent for these athletes even
when other aspects of life carry uncertainty.
I am fortunate to have found ways to incorporate my
enjoyment of volunteering with my occupation as a realtor. Although
it is a more complex process, aiding in the housing search for
low-income families is extremely fulfilling. I work alongside
veteran and first-time landlords who understand the impact of
renting to families with housing vouchers. One of my favorite
aspects of being a Realtor is the ability to assist in major life
decisions to secure the basic human necessity of a place to call
home. I have worked with children in the past who were unsure when
their next meal would come or where they would be sleeping that
night – if I can resolve this situation for just one family
at a time, I know those children will have the bandwidth to worry
less and be a kid more.
How did
you first get involved with assisting clients with Housing
Vouchers? Why is Fair Housing and affordable housing so
important?
My first Section 8 placement was with a first-time
landlord who only had basic knowledge of the housing voucher
programs. Although it was a bit daunting at first to explore
something entirely foreign to either of us, we learned alongside
each other and navigated the forms necessary to secure the home
placement. The applicant was a single mother, who worked full-time
for the Boston Public School system and had two school-aged
children. At the time, her daughter was in middle school with a
strong interest in the arts, while her son was a sophomore in high
school who just made the varsity team. Her children were of
different genders and of the age where they should each have a
comfortable bedroom to call their own at the end of the school day.
Unfortunately with a single income, she could only qualify for a
one-bedroom apartment. Her son should not have to decide between
working a part-time job or playing on the Varsity football team
after school because additional funds were needed to pay for the
basic family living expenses. For this family, the Section 8
housing voucher in essence was the second form of income necessary
to achieve the living standards that most dual-income households
maintain.
You
regularly work with clients in the Section 8 community, helping
low-income families find stable housing. What are some of the
unique challenges and opportunities that come with doing this work
in the Boston area?
Aside from actually finding the right property that my
clients can envision calling home, one of the greatest challenges
faced with housing vouchers is the uncertainty of timelines when it
comes to approval. This process can be time-consuming and tedious
between the added paperwork and follow-ups, but there is no greater
feeling than helping a family secure a safe and comfortable new
home. I have past families that send me holiday photos & life
updates, which remind me of why all people, regardless of past
circumstances, deserve proper housing.
One memory that stands out was a follow-up from a
single mother to three young children, who was completing Nursing
School at the time I had assisted in her home search. Upon passing
her final Nursing Exam, she sent me a photo in her graduation
attire surrounded by her children. I know that by offering client
representation, I can shrink the gap of misinformation that many
new landlords have regarding housing assistance programs.
Can you
share any rewarding moments from your work with disadvantaged
clients? What are you most proud of?
Many of the families I work with have school-aged
children who are relocating to a new town or school system, which
can be another hurdle to overcome. As previously mentioned, I
volunteer with the Volo Kids Foundation, which provides FREE sports
leagues, healthy snacks, and social engagement for youth ages 4-12
who do not have the means or access to participate in private
athletic programs. I have been able to inform parents about these
sports leagues, which are at no cost to participating families, and
watch their children develop athletic and social skills throughout
the 6-week sessions. Since the fruition of Volo Kids in Boston, the
program has grown from 2 to 40 leagues in a given year. In 2023,
over 2,650 athletes participated in these free athletic programs.
The numbers are amazing with growth year after year, but the
ultimate reward is the continued IMPACT.
One of the most rewarding moments was being able to
see the framed awards hanging on my player’s wall when I
stopped by to visit a family I had placed less than a year prior.
His mom mentioned that he asks to wear his Volo Kids shirt more
often than she can keep up with the laundry. The clear impact I
have left on that family drives me to continue helping others.
Do you
have any recommendations for those considering taking a deeper dive
into philanthropy?
Just get started! Sign up to volunteer for a one-time
event, and surround yourself with people from a different walk of
life. My favorite quote is from the movie Pocahontas, “If you
walk the footsteps of a stranger, you’ll learn things you
never knew, you never knew.” I believe once you get a taste
of how fulfilling it is to serve others, your hunger to give back
will continue to grow.
Jess Oknin is a real estate professional with
Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty at 556 Tremont Street, Boston,
Massachusetts | 781.775.3610 | JessO@GibsonSIR.com
To learn more about Volo Sports, click here.