Shams DaBaron: From Lived Experience to Housing Activism and Real Estate Development
Shams DaBaron: From Lived Experience to Housing Activism and Real Estate Development
Shams DaBaron, widely recognized across New York City by his advocacy names "Da Homeless Hero" and "Da Housing Hero," is a Black housing advocate, policy activist, speaker, and real estate developer. Born and raised in the South Bronx, DaBaron has transformed his decades of lived experience within New York City’s foster care and shelter systems into a powerful force for urban policy reform and community development.
Early Life and Family Background
- Upbringing: Born and raised in the South Bronx, DaBaron experienced systemic hardship from an early age.
- Child Welfare & Foster Care: His mother struggled with substance addiction during her pregnancy, leading to DaBaron being placed into New York City’s foster care system around the age of two.
- Early Housing Instability: Without a permanent home placement during his early childhood years, DaBaron first experienced homelessness around ten years old, beginning a multi-decade journey of navigating housing insecurity, single fatherhood, and the municipal shelter network.
Education and Intellectual Journey
- Higher Education: DaBaron earned an Associate of Arts degree and went on to complete his Bachelor of Arts in Social Policy from Bard College.
- Self-Directed Study: Prior to completing his formal degree, DaBaron relied heavily on self-education during times of hardship. He utilized public libraries and self-directed study to master filmmaking, creative writing, policy analysis, and community organizing.
Key Advocacy Milestones & Impact
1. The Lucerne Hotel Movement (2020)
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City temporarily moved unhoused residents out of crowded congregate shelters into vacant commercial hotels to prevent viral transmission. When residents were placed at the Lucerne Hotel on Manhattan's Upper West Side, neighborhood pushback threatened their eviction. DaBaron emerged as a central organizer and spokesperson, forming coalitions with grassroots organizations like the UWS Open Hearts Initiative to demand dignified treatment, supportive services, and stable transitions to permanent housing.
2. Policy & Civic Leadership
Following the Lucerne campaign, DaBaron expanded his focus toward systemic reform across the city:
- NYC Charter Revision Commission: Appointed to public civic bodies, including the NYC Charter Revision Commission, representing housing perspectives and advocacy for vulnerable New Yorkers.
- Lived-Experience Policy: He consistently champions a "Housing First" model, emphasizing that unhoused individuals and shelter residents must have a seat at the table in drafting housing legislation, urban policy, and supportive service design.
3. Real Estate Development (LionFox Development)
Translating policy advocacy into direct creation of housing, DaBaron founded LionFox Development, where he serves as CEO. Through LionFox, he acts as a co-developer on mixed-income and deeply affordable housing projects across New York City—notably advocating for large-scale community developments like Harlem's One45 project.
4. Storytelling & Public Engagement
DaBaron frequently uses creative media to reframe public perceptions around homelessness, including op-eds, public lectures, and theatrical productions such as the interactive off-Broadway production Addressless.
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