2024 NAR Fair Housing Champion Award - Eve B. Lee

Eve B. Lee, a Lake County, Illinois, community leader, has spent over 60 years expanding housing opportunities. She developed a passion for fairness and equality from her upbringing in a financially strained household. Despite challenges, including leaving her sorority over discriminatory practices, she pursued education and became involved in civil rights efforts. In the 1960s, Lee promoted the collaboration between real estate organizations and fair housing advocates, leading to significant agreements. Recognizing the need for affordable housing, she spearheaded initiatives that resulted in the creation of over 1,300 affordable housing units across Lake County. In 2017, she orchestrated the merger of three housing nonprofits, forming CPAH, which offers various housing services. Lee's advocacy extended to calling for mandatory fair housing training, which led to NAR's adoption of required training in 2023. Throughout her life, Eve B. Lee's dedication to housing equity has left a profound legacy in Lake County and beyond.