Shkëlqim Kelmendi

2024-2025 Obama Foundation USA Leader

Headshot of Shkëlqim Kelmendi, 2024-2025 Obama Foundation USA Leader

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Housing Connector

Seattle, Washington

Shkëlqim Kelmendi is the founder and CEO of Housing Connector, a national nonprofit working to ensure that no unit sits vacant while people are in need of a home. Since launching in late 2019, Housing Connector has housed more than 6,000 people and expanded to include operations in Dallas, Denver, Portland, and Seattle. He works at the intersection of social services and technology, using data to track those who may be evicted. After experiencing the Kosovo War, Shkëlqim has a keen understanding of instability after he was impacted personally by a country in conflict. Shkëlqim serves on the Board of United Way of King County and is the founder of the Young Albanian Professionals network. Shkëlqim’s work has impacted thousands of people, and he hopes to impact the housing supply from a systems change approach beyond short-term housing solutions.

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