Tarrytown, NY In the building trades, the cornerstone guides the workers in their course; it is the standard of measure and alignment. The Leviticus Fund presented its 2025 Cornerstone Award to Ronald Abad, CEO of Community Housing Innovations (CHI). He was recognized at the Leviticus Fund’s annual meeting of members for nonprofit and government leadership in service to ending homelessness and its indignity.

Abad joined the board of the Leviticus Fund in 2022 with three decades of experience in the creation of supportive housing, homeless shelters, and community-based health care. He is founding pastor of Freedom Hill Church, an Assemblies of God congregation in Westchester County.

“Ron brings a wealth of experience to his service on our board, especially through his leadership of CHI,” said Greg Maher, executive director of the Leviticus Fund. 

“He has consistently demonstrated deep, faith-based resolve to helping under-resourced individuals facing challenges, in particular those lacking safe and affordable housing.”

Community Housing Innovations provides housing and human services to promote social and economic independence, aims to end generational poverty, and helps individuals and families secure quality housing and employment. CHI has secured loans to support its work from the Leviticus Fund. Prior to CHI, Abad served as the Assistant Commissioner of the New York City Department of Homeless Services, first in Family Services and then in Planning and Development. He also worked for Urban Pathways and Acacia Network.

“I am humbled to receive the Cornerstone Award, which is so meaningful because God is my cornerstone,” said Abad. “I never separate my faith from my work. I believe that God has called us individually to live our best lives, serve others, and love God as well as our neighbors. God put me on a path 30 years ago to work in the housing area because my family faced housing problems in the Bronx. I have always believed that everyone needs a home – and our work is about the basic dignity of having a place to live. These uncertain times put that dignity at risk. But my faith is strong, and serving on the board of the Leviticus Fund is an honor. I don’t see this as work; it’s a calling.”

According to Maher, “The mission of Community Housing Innovations aligns very closely with the Leviticus Fund’s efforts to create opportunities for vulnerable, low-income people to thrive and live with dignity. We established the Cornerstone Award in 2015 to recognize those who have made extraordinary contributions to promoting poverty relief, and are pleased to be able to highlight Ron’s work as well as that of CHI.”