Jim Knight, President & CEO of Jubilee Housing, was recently recognized with the Bob Pohlman Lifetime Achievement in Community Development Award from The Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development (CNHED). This award is given annually to an outstanding local leader with at least 20 years of consistent service and leadership in the District of Columbia’s community development field.
Robert “Bob” Pohlman served as CNHED’s Executive Director from 2000–2014, and was a beloved figure in the community development field, as well as a great friend, mentor, and colleague to many. Bob’s work at CNHED followed a 23-year career in the District of Columbia government, where he served as Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development, Deputy Mayor for Finance, and Chief Financial Officer. His first post with the DC government was with the Model Cities Program, first as Fiscal Monitor, then as Budget and Accounting Officer. Bob began his career as an auditor in Chicago, but found his calling in public service while serving in Jacksonville, Texas, as a VISTA Volunteer. His career embodied a true commitment to public service.
Bob passed away in Spring of 2018. In light of his legacy, CNHED created the Bob Pohlman Lifetime Achievement in Community Development Award.
About Jim Knight
Jim Knight has led Jubilee Housing as its President & CEO since 2002, guiding strategic direction for the organization’s mission and vision. He leads a staff of more than 60 employees developing and managing affordable housing communities and offering an array of supportive services for residents. In his tenure, the organization has completed development of ten properties totaling nearly $150M in investments, growing resident service delivery for youth and families, and establishing first of its kind housing and services for people returning from incarceration. In addition to utilizing cutting-edge financing and innovative solutions to address DC’s affordable housing crisis, Knight has led the organization to adopt environmental justice tools such as Solar for All, energy resiliency, and aquaponics.
Knight spearheaded the launch of the Justice Housing Partners Fund, an impact investment fund that Jubilee has used to acquire four new properties that will produce 120 new units of justice housing. Knight has also helped establish new collective efforts among community partners, including the Platform of Hope working with families in Adams Morgan, and a collective impact initiative working with partners to establish citywide housing and services for residents returning from incarceration.
A DC resident for more than two decades, Knight previously served on the Housing Production Trust Fund Advisory Board, assisting two mayors in their strategic investment in affordable housing. He currently serves on the board of Recovery Café DC, in historic Anacostia. Knight is a member of the Leadership Greater Washington class of 2019, and was recognized as non-profit CEO of the Year in 2018 by the Washington Business Journal. Prior to accepting the CEO role at Jubilee, Knight led the men’s transitional program at Samaritan Inns, where he oversaw a staff of addiction counselors and social service coordinators and worked directly with residents as they took steps to rebuild their lives.