Donna Lea Brooks

Rural Development Specialist, RCAC

Donna Lea Brooks joined RCAC in January 2017. As a Rural Development Specialist – Housing Counseling. She provides grant administration, training and technical assistance to HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. 

Ms. Brooks has more than 31 years’ experience in the real estate and nonprofit housing fields.  She spent 17 years in the mortgage banking industry, including mortgage loan servicing,  administration and investor relations. She also specialized in Reverse Mortgages, working as an originator for 4 years.  Working in the nonprofit sector for the last 14 years, she developed programs and services to assist low- to moderate-income individuals and families achieve their financial, housing and asset-building goals. Her experience in the Housing Counseling field includes providing adult education and individual counseling along with reporting and compliance expertise. As a Grants Analyst for a Community Action Partnership in southern Oregon, she managed a complex array of over 100 federal, state and non-public grants, ensuring timely monitoring, compliance and funder reporting. Ms. Brooks also provided leadership for the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) program in Jackson County, Oregon, serving as Lead Administrator for all HUD CoC homeless programs. 

Certifications

HUD Certified Housing Counselor

NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling (NCHEC) certifications for:

• Pre-Purchase Home Ownership Counseling
• Foreclosure Intervention and Default Prevention Counseling
• Pre-Purchase Homeownership Education

Professional Affiliations 

Grants Pass Area Habitat for Humanity

Oregon State Housing Policy

Oregon Opportunity Network