Dr. Jess Steele, leading Hastings Commons, invested £85,000 of her own money to convert derelict buildings into affordable housing in Hastings, UK. Driven by a desire to prevent gentrification and improve local living conditions, the community group has made significant strides since 2014. Their latest project secured £1.5 million from the council to create 12 flats in a historic Observer Building. As the housing crisis escalates nationally, such community-led initiatives are viewed as essential components of a larger solution.