Safia Gelle

About Safia Gelle

Safia Gelle was born in Dolo Odo, Ethiopia, and later relocated to Columbus, Ohio when she was 10 years old and as one of 10 siblings. Her family’s journey of resilience and resourcefulness shaped her early understanding of the power of collective support and sparked her commitment to community development.

During an internship in the Linden neighborhood of Columbus, Safia encountered the challenges of depleted housing stock and systemic disinvestment. Determined to create lasting solutions, she authored a white paper advocating for a community land trust (CLT) to secure affordable housing while enabling neighborhood improvements. This proposal laid the groundwork for the area’s first CLT, fueling Safia’s passion for addressing housing inequities at scale.

Safia earned her BA in Urban Planning at Columbia University, where she co-founded Stride Development, a public benefit corporation dedicated to creating sustainable, community-centered housing across the United States. Stride Development focuses on connecting residents to resources like childcare, public transit, and job opportunities, with the aim of transforming underserved neighborhoods into thriving, inclusive communities. To date, the company has housed over 400 families, demonstrating the potential for scalable, impactful solutions to housing challenges nationwide.

As she pursues graduate studies in international development, Safia aims to deepen her understanding of the interplay between ever-changing United States policies, shifting administrations, and sustainable housing practices. This knowledge will enhance her ability to navigate complex systems and design strategies that withstand political and economic fluctuations. While focused on national challenges, Safia draws inspiration from global contexts, hoping to one day adapt successful models from the United States to empower underserved communities worldwide.

Safia’s work reflects her belief that housing is not just about shelter—it’s about creating opportunities for people to thrive. Through her efforts, she seeks to ensure that equitable access to housing, resources, and infrastructure remains a cornerstone of resilient and inclusive communities.