James Upchurch

James Upchurch

James Upchurch
President
301-662-4225

James Upchurch has more than 30 years of housing experience, which began when he built houses in Greensboro, N. C., to earn tuition for his BA degree at Guilford College. In 1967, he led a team to rural Mexico for two years where they built a 10 room school, latrines and housing.

On returning to the United States, he joined the staff of the American Friends Service Committee and directed efforts to improve housing for migrant and seasonal farm workers in Florida. After creating five new self-help housing organizations in Florida, he accepted a position in 1978 with the Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) to organize a large scale housing and squatter upgrading project in Africa. Botswana's President asked him to extend his tour to help prepare his nation's first housing policy. In 1988, he was elected President/CEO of the CHF and directed housing and community development lending programs in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The CHF received the 1991 U.N. International Award for outstanding work by a non-governmental organization in the shelter sector.

Since 1992, Mr. Upchurch has served as President of Interfaith Housing Alliance, a secular not-for-profit organization founded in 1989 by Western Maryland's religious community in response to need for affordable housing in the region. He leads an awarding winning team of housing professionals who have produced hundreds of housing solutions.

731 North Market Street
Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 662-4225
FAX: (301) 662-6477