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Welcome to Behind the Desk!

  • Writer: Jessica Bryan
    Jessica Bryan
  • 1 day ago
  • 2 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

Why I Started This Company: A Journey Back to Housing

Hi, I’m Jessica Bryan—and this is the beginning of something I’ve been dreaming about for years.

Before I ever helped open restaurants or launched a business, I was working behind the scenes to solve real problems in housing. I served with HUD, managed millions in federal funding, supported agencies across New York State, and helped families navigate complex systems—Section 8, CoC, FSS, HCR, OMH, ESG, CDBG, and everything in between. I’ve sat in emergency housing meetings. I’ve run Family Self-Sufficiency programs. I’ve led mental health housing coordination for entire counties. I’ve seen it all—from the numbers on spreadsheets to the people those numbers represent.

Then life took a turn. I stepped away from housing to build a new venture with my husband, Chef Darian Bryan. Together, we created a hospitality group that now includes restaurants, a private chef company, national brand deals, and a foundation. But no matter how far I got from the field—I never stopped thinking about the gaps I used to see in housing.

And that’s why I started this consulting company.

Because we can do better. Because government and nonprofit staff are burnt out, under-resourced, and expected to deliver impossible results with little support. Because compliance doesn’t have to be painful. Because data can be a tool, not just a report. Because change is possible—even inside the system.


What to Expect From This Blog

This blog is for housing professionals—whether you’re in City Hall or a shelter, running a CoC or managing a spreadsheet. I’ll be sharing:

  • Tools for improving compliance and performance

  • Insights from the field (and from behind the scenes)

  • Real talk on burnout, leadership, and systems change

  • Process improvement ideas you can actually use

  • Deep dives into rent calculation, FSS, modular housing, and more

  • Case studies, funding tips, and how to tell your agency’s story better

If you’re here because you care about doing good work in housing—and doing it well—you’re in the right place. I’m here to help you make the most of what you already have. Let’s build better systems, smarter strategies, and stronger outcomes—together.





Subscribe for all the housing content!


Thanks for following along.

—Jessica

 
 
 
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