You can usually find Edna Willrich spending time with her grandchildren and children, if she’s not doing that then she is at church or bible study. Edna is the anchor to her family in many ways and she has also had a major impact on the Boston Housing Authority. Those who know Edna, know if something is on her mind she is going to say it. Edna has stood up for section 8 residents and for all BHA residents since she moved to Boston from Fort Worth Texas at the age of 25.

Edna's learned a lot about the BHA, Section 8, and fair housing when she became a BHA resident. Shortly after becoming a resident of the BHA she joined the Resident Advisory Board (RAB). With the RAB, she is attending meetings every week and even attending conferences to discuss different policies and ideas with people all over the country and with different housing authorities.

Edna was appointed to the BHA Monitoring Committee in 2010 as a representative of the BHA Section 8 program. The Monitoring Committee is appointed by the Mayor of Boston to periodically review matters relating to the management and performance of Boston Housing Authority (BHA), and to report these matters to the Mayor. The committee reviews and approves the annual federal and state operating budget, the annual modernization applications, and all property dispositions which would reduce the total number of housing units owned by BHA. When Edna’s friend suggested that she should join, Edna was on board. The Monitoring Committee needs to have at least one section 8 member and Edna served that position for over 12 years.

Edna is one the BHA’s strongest voices and will continue to stand up for what is right and hold BHA’s feet to the fire. All of the committees and boards Edna has been a part of have all been thankful to serve alongside her. The Boston Housing Authority is lucky to have someone like Edna!