Where you live and have lived is the most important factor in one's future. It affects everything from health outcomes, to access to resources, and resilience to trauma. To best understand opportunity is to understand the 'power of place.'
Meet Kion
Kion Sawney is a housing professional with a presence in New York City, San Francisco and the places in between. For over a decade, he has worked with communities nationwide to enhance the opportunities for residents. Most recently, he’s been supporting various organizations to expand their impact to stakeholders. Before that, he was a Senior Real Estate Developer for Mercy Housing California, where he led the construction of over 300 affordable housing units in San Francisco.
Since 2021, Kion has served as a member of the San Francisco Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Commission (Rent Board). Nominated by San Francisco Mayor London Breed and confirmed by the Board of Supervisors, the appointment allows him to advocate for tenants and support the preservation of rent-controlled units in the city.
Kion also serves on the board of SF YIMBY, where he advocates for the creation of diverse housing types to meet San Francisco's housing needs. In 2021, he championed San Francisco November ballot measure Prop D as the ballot’s proponent. The measure aimed to establish a set review period for qualifying developments. In 2020, Kion completed a four-year term as Board President of the HIV/AIDS nonprofit Street Works in Nashville, TN.
As a Posse Scholar, Kion earned a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning from Vanderbilt University. Beyond his housing work, he enjoys hiking, surfing, or cycling along the California coast. When on the East Coast, he can often be found enjoying a slice of pizza.
