Introducing Raleigh Housing Authority’s newest department! The Resident Services (RS) department assists RHA residents and participants through the following teams and programs:
- Relocation Team directs residents who are being temporarily or permanently displaced, working with each family individually to ensure that guidance and resources are accessible during difficult transition periods.
- Service Coordinators connect residents to essential services, resources, and programs that nourish physical, emotional, and social well-being while building a vital sense of community and belonging.
- Coming Soon! Family Self-Sufficiency encourages clientele to thrive through personal and career development that fosters economic independence and self-sufficiency.
Resident Services promotes community partnerships and personal development that ensure clientele access to increase self-sufficiency, maintain affordable housing, and remain connected to employment and educational opportunities. RS also promotes social engagement and encourages clientele resilience while cultivating relationships and resident leadership.
Aims of the Resident Services Department
- Create a supportive environment by embodying respect, trust, and kindness to all others, both individually and amongst teams, while being keenly focused on bolstering and expanding resident-centered programs.
- Empower clients to overcome hardships, increase self-sufficiency, and build strong, thriving lives and communities through thoughtful services, partnerships and programs.
- Support and promote personal wellbeing by fostering positive perspectives, demonstrating appreciation and gratitude, and encouraging bright outlooks even during adversity.
Alexis Whitney
Resident Services Coordinator
Alexis comes to RHA with a background in social work. Before joining RHA, she facilitated classes for families seeking to become licensed foster parents in the state of North Carolina. She has worked as a social worker with departments of social services and non-profit agencies for decades, assisting family members—young and elderly. During that time, she aided individuals seeking to overcome addiction to substances and dealing with mental health concerns and families exiting local shelters by locating and maintaining safe, affordable, and stable housing. She assessed their ongoing needs and aided them with coordinating services to promote self-sufficiency.
Alexis is from Ohio, and as such, she cheers for anything involving- The Ohio State. She is a transplant to the area and has quickly adapted to the humid summers and cool winters. She now embraces many of North Carolina’s traditions, which means rooting for the Tar Heels!
Born in South America, Alexis enjoys indulging in ethnic dishes from South America and all around the world. In her spare time, she likes spending time volunteering in the ministry, listening to music, and spending time with her family and friends. She regularly visits her family in Cleveland, Ohio. While there she loves riding roller coasters at the amusement park Cedar Point and touring the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame. Alexis is excited to start her next chapter with RHA and the residents the agency serves.
Gabriela Zapata
Relocation Specialist
Gabriela “Gabby” Zapata is a dedicated professional with a background in property management and extensive experience working with tax credit properties, Section 8 tenants, and emergency relocations. Before joining RHA in October, she served as an Assistant Property Manager at Durham Community Land Trustees, where she was responsible for rent collection, coordinating maintenance, and assisting with emergency housing situations for low-income individuals.
Born and raised in Honduras, Gabby moved to the U.S. 12 years ago, spending three years in New York City before settling down here. She got her undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering in Honduras and completed her college education in New York, earning a Master of
Business Administration. She resides with her husband and two young children—a son and a daughter, ages 3 and 5. Family is important to Gabby, and they regularly visit her parents in Honduras whenever possible.
Outside of work, Gabby enjoys spending quality time with her family and cooking traditional Honduran dishes, sharing cultural heritage with loved ones. She is also enthusiastic about continuing her personal and professional growth, having found the onboarding process and online training through Aspire to be particularly helpful in settling into the new role. So far, she has enjoyed building relationships with tenants and working alongside a supportive and knowledgeable team at RHA.
“An interesting fact about myself is that I’m from the Garifuna community in Honduras. The Garifuna people have a rich cultural heritage that blends African, Caribbean, and Indigenous influences. Our language, music, and traditions are an important part of who I am, and I’m proud to carry forward the history of resilience and survival of my ancestors.”
Laura McCann
Resident Services Director
Laura McCann serves as the Director for Raleigh Housing Authority’s Resident Services Department. She began working for RHA in March 2012 as the Administrative Assistant for the public housing program. Since then, Laura has taken over several roles and tasks that have given her a wide view of the agency and its clients. Most recently, she has been heavily involved in the relocation of Heritage Park families. Being able to interact with and help those in difficult circumstances brings her joy and satisfaction.
“I was originally unaware of what a housing authority was and didn’t seek going into the housing industry. I knew I wanted to work with people in a helping capacity but I didn’t know exactly what that would be. My mom encouraged me to see if Raleigh had a housing authority because her mom served as a board member for a housing authority in Tennessee.” And the rest is history!
Laura grew up in four different states but claims both Raleigh, NC and Marietta, GA as her hometowns. Being a Georgia Peach, she is an enthusiastic Atlanta Braves fan. She holds degrees from Caron-Newman University and North Carolina State University. During her free time, Laura enjoys reading, crocheting and spending time with her husband and two golden retrievers. She and her husband have been renovating their house since 2019 and find it rewarding. Laura is an avid Harry Potter fan. “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” ~ Albus Dumbledore
Sharon Sneed
Relocation Manager
Sharon Sneed is a seasoned housing professional with over two decades of experience working in various housing and social services roles. Before joining RHA, she worked as a Housing Specialist for UnitedHealthcare, where she supported individuals facing housing instability. Sharon’s work involved coordinating resources and referrals, often working with Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), NC Legal Aid, and other organizations. Her experience with Section 8 housing, as well as working with disabled individuals and low-income families, has been a central theme throughout her career. Sharon’s current role is managing the Heritage Park Relocation team in providing individual care for those who are relocating.
Originally from Vance County, N.C., Sharon now resides in nearby Granville County. She has spent much of her professional life in housing and community services roles, including positions at a Community Action Agency, where she worked with programs such as Section 8 Housing and Elderly/Disabled housing, the Community Services Block Grant and Family Resource Center. Her broad experience spans multiple sectors, including food and nutrition case management, HR, and housing authority work in Vance, Franklin, and Wake counties.
Outside of work, Sharon enjoys spending time with her family and has a deep passion for helping others, which extends beyond housing into her interest in mortuary science. Sharon is also an avid fan of murder mystery stories. Sharon’s travels have also shaped her perspective. Sharon’s transition from non-profit to for-profit environments has reinforced her belief in putting people first. She’s observed that in some settings, financial metrics sometimes overshadow the human element, but she remains committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those she serves.
Suzanne Sands
Resident Services Coordinator
Suzanne Sands is a resilient advocate for those overcoming life’s challenges, having transformed her own journey from homelessness to homeownership. With over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, she specializes in helping underserved communities and homeless veterans navigate the welfare system.
A passionate supporter of the SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) program, Suzanne has a proven track record of assisting individuals in securing Social Security benefits—often within just three months. She also dedicates her efforts to ensuring veterans obtain vital VA benefits and pensions.
Her firsthand experience as a single parent facing homelessness fuels her commitment to empowering others. By fostering dignity and respect, Suzanne motivates individuals to achieve self-sufficiency and build brighter futures. Through her work, she strives to create supportive communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.