On July 7, 1999 Mayor Richard Daley appointed Sandra Young as a resident commissioner to the Chicago Housing Authority, and was reappointed in 2004 to a term expiring on July 7, 2009. Since her tenure as Commissioner, Ms. Young has served as the chairperson the Tenant Services Committee.

A dedicated leader and resident of the Ida B. Wells development for the past 25 years, Ms. Young has served as Local Advisory Council President of the Wells Development for six years. As LAC President, Ms. Young has fought tirelessly for a construction job agreement, mandating that Wells residents be hired during redevelopment at that site. She was instrumental in obtaining 25 Youth Build positions for Wells residents in addition to negotiating the hiring of 25 residents by the private property management.

Over the last four years, more than 800 seasonal Christmas positions were granted to CHA residents by the Chicago Post Office due to Ms. Young’s involvement. Commissioner Young helped secure $35 million for the redevelopment of the Wells/Madden Park community, negotiated the use of $8 million for redevelopment of the Darrow Homes site and secured construction of 446 new housing units scheduled to start in 2002. She obtained commitment from the Chicago Park District to improve neighborhood parks and secured $39 million for new infrastructure.

In January 2002, Ms. Young was elected to the Central Advisory Council’s Executive Board as Treasurer. Ms. Young is a member of New Testament Full Gospel Church and co-founder and a former CEO of UJIMA, Inc., an organization that promotes economic self-sufficiency for families in disadvantaged communities.