Associate Director of Chapters
While most people know Florida for its sandy beaches and seemingly unbelievable “Florida Man” stories, the Sunshine State–particularly South Florida–is also one of the least affordable housing climates in the country. Although Andrew and his partner were both working full-time as educators, it became clear that they could no longer afford to rent an apartment, much less to buy a home, anywhere within commuting distance of their jobs. So, they changed jobs, packed up, and moved over 200 miles north so they could afford a home where they could one day raise a family. Housing is a human right, and no one should have to uproot their lives to afford a home. These are the values that Andrew fights for every day as a member of the YIMBY team.
Andrew Gothard is a former labor organizer/union leader and higher education faculty member who joined the pro-housing movement after experiencing firsthand the impact of unsustainable housing costs in South Florida. He earned his Ph.D. in English in 2017 from the University of Miami and taught for six years at Florida Atlantic University. During that time, he also served as an organizer and elected union official with the United Faculty of Florida, the Florida Education Association, and the Florida AFL-CIO. Andrew comes to YIMBY Action with a great deal of experience in grassroots organizing, political advocacy, state and federal court litigation, and press relations.
