When the Work Becomes Personal: Leadership, Disability & Finding Your WhyIn this episode of The SAHMA Exchange, we sit down with Justin Brooks, Executive Director and President of the South Mississippi Housing Authority, for a conversation about affordable housing, leadership, family and what happens when your professional mission becomes deeply personal. Justin originally planned to become a city manager after earning his master’s degree in public administration. But when housing-related challenges landed on his desk early in his career, he discovered work he loved. Since entering the affordable housing industry in 2004, his career has taken him through tax credit development, HUD, consulting and ultimately back to the public housing sector. Along the way, Justin says he found not only the “what” of his work, but his “why.” That why has evolved considerably. Justin and his wife are raising seven children, and their two youngest, Bailey and Jonah, have been diagnosed with Mainzer-Saldino syndrome, an extremely rare genetic disorder. Their family’s experience has changed the way Justin thinks about housing, accessibility, accommodations and what communities need to look like for future generations of people with disabilities. Justin shares why meeting minimum accessibility requirements isn’t enough, why accommodations should begin with the person rather than a checklist, and why affordable housing leaders need to be deliberate and intentional about creating communities where people with disabilities can live full, meaningful lives. We also talk about empathy, kindness, marriage and family, vulnerability in leadership, finding the “heart” in the people we hire, and Justin’s forthcoming book, Against All Odds by Design. What is Mainzer-Saldino syndrome?Mainzer-Saldino syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized primarily by kidney disease, retinal/vision problems and skeletal abnormalities. It is usually caused by variants in the IFT140 gene, which affects the formation and function of cilia—tiny structures on cells that play important roles throughout the body. Chronic kidney disease typically begins during childhood and can progress to kidney failure. Retinal degeneration is also common and can cause significant vision impairment. Skeletal abnormalities, particularly involving the bones of the fingers, are another characteristic of the condition. Because Mainzer-Saldino syndrome is extraordinarily rare, its true prevalence is unknown. The NIH’s MedlinePlus Genetics notes that at least 20 cases had been reported in the medical literature reflected in its summary. Learn more: NIH MedlinePlus Genetics — Mainzer-Saldino Syndromehttps://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/mainzer-saldino-syndrome/ Disability & Autism by the NumbersMore than 1 in 4 U.S. adults has some type of disability. According to the CDC, disabilities affecting cognition, mobility, independent living, hearing, vision and self-care are among those represented in this population. CDC: Disability Impacts All of Ushttps://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/disability-impacts-all-of-us-infographic.html About 1 in 31 8-year-old children was identified with autism spectrum disorder in the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network in 2022. The estimate is based on 16 U.S. monitoring communities and should not be interpreted as representing every child in the United States. CDC: Data and Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorderhttps://www.cdc.gov/autism/data-research/ National Disability Employment Awareness MonthOctober is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual observance recognizing the contributions people with disabilities make to America’s workplaces and economy and the importance of expanding opportunities for people with disabilities. The 2026 NDEAM theme is “Celebrating Value and Talent.” Justin’s story challenges us to think beyond employment alone and consider the full picture of adulthood: Where will people with disabilities live? Where will they work? How will they participate in their communities? And are we building the housing, workplaces and support systems today that future generations will need tomorrow? Learn more about NDEAM:https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam In This EpisodeJustin and Renee discuss: How an unexpected assignment led Justin to a career in affordable housingFinding—and allowing yourself to redefine—your “why”How Justin’s children changed the way he approaches housing and leadershipThe future housing needs of people with disabilitiesMoving beyond minimum accessibility and accommodation requirementsSeeing the person behind an accommodation requestWhy empathy and kindness matter even when we can’t fully understand someone else’s experienceBeing deliberate and intentional in housing developmentSupporting a spouse while raising a large, blended family and navigating significant medical challengesHow lived experience has influenced Justin’s leadership styleLooking for “heart” when hiring affordable housing professionalsWhy vulnerability matters in leadershipJustin’s forthcoming book, Against All Odds by DesignGetting back to the people at the heart of affordable housing
