Dennise Hill
From the outside looking in, people questioned Dennise Hill’s career change—it didn’t seem like a natural step forward.
However, to Hill, the decision made perfect sense.
A few months ago, she left her city government director position to become executive director of Brethren Housing Association (BHA), a Harrisburg nonprofit that assists single parents and children.
As Hill spoke of the first weeks of her experience at the Hummel Street headquarters, she beamed.
“It felt like I was coming home,” she said. “From one vantage point, it’s not necessarily a promotion in title or anything along those lines, but for me, it absolutely is. I really, really love it.”
Hill, a Steelton native, has worked in the housing and human services field for years, for the YWCA as the director of housing and homelessness services before serving as the director of building and housing development for Harrisburg.
She enjoyed her job with the city, which included a lot of administrative tasks like working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer grant funds locally. But, when she heard about the opening for the director position at BHA, she was excited about the opportunity to return to more direct service in the community, she said.
Former director Kait Gillis-Hanna, who served since 2020, reached out to Hill to encourage her to consider the job.
“It was just a really good fit,” Hill said.
In her new role, Hill oversees operations for BHA. The organization has historically offered transitional housing for single mothers and their children experiencing homelessness. Participants attend programming on job training, financial literacy and renter’s education.
“I left direct services to be the voice at the government level […] I wanted to be the voice at the table,” Hill said. “When this opportunity came up, it was like going back. I missed being able to be directly impacting at the organization level.”
Like a Sunflower
Hill’s passion for housing stems from her own life experiences. Growing up, her family’s home was always bustling with neighborhood kids—the “unofficial community center of Steelton,” she said. She admired how involved her parents were in the community.
Hill also faced her own challenges with housing later in life, but always had a strong familial support system to lean on, she explained.
“As I became an adult, I became a parent, and I was able to see just how easy it is to fall into a situation where you need help,” she said. “I really strive to be the person I’ve needed before.”
In her role at BHA, Hill took over leadership of all current operations but also of some new initiatives. One of those is BHA’s program to provide permanent affordable housing to its transitional housing program graduates. The nonprofit now has three units, one in Steelton and two in Harrisburg, that it owns and rents to families based on their income level. One of the three tenants is even going through a rent-to-own program with BHA.
Hill will lead the nonprofit in securing additional properties for this program.
“Permanently affordable housing was created because, after we had families go through one full year, the housing market hasn’t changed, or it may have gotten worse by then,” she said. “So, if there are some barriers that exist, they are better off for going through the transitions program. However, it’s not as simple as, just take the year and you’re right back out there.”
Additionally, BHA is currently transitioning its headquarters from the basement of the First Church of the Brethren to a much larger property across the street.
“It was a well-oiled machine before I got here,” Hill said. “So, I’m very fortunate that I feel like I’m able to use my strengths to elevate the organization.”
As much as Hill felt like BHA was the perfect fit for her, the feeling was mutual for longtime staff.
“When we met with her, it was almost instant,” said Abbey King, director of operations. “Dennise will walk in here and fit in with the staff. She understands the culture of BHA. She has a great vision for the organization.”
As much as Hill loved her previous work at the city, her plate was constantly full. At BHA, she’s still applying for grants and overseeing staff, but she has time to chat with a resident who stops by and snuggle her baby. She also appreciates the faith-based work environment, which she hasn’t experienced before. She’s happy—and ready to share that radiance with those she assists.
“I’m on this new kick of living like a sunflower,” she said. “When you see a sunflower, you can’t help but to be brighter and smile.”
Brethren Housing Association is located at 219 Hummel St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.bha-pa.org.
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