Jessica Shaw

Tell us a little about yourself.
Please provide a brief background or bio, including any relevant experiences or interests. 

My name is Jess Shaw, and I moved to Savannah in 2007 after visiting for a weekend and instantly falling in love with the city. The warmth and acceptance of this community made it easy for me to make friends quickly, and I’ve felt at home ever since. Over the years, I worked at several local businesses, which gave me a deeper understanding of how the city operates and connected me with so many incredible people. I earned my degree in Psychology from Armstrong and used it to become a case manager at a homeless shelter, where I worked to support individuals in need. In search of more flexibility, I transitioned my side hustle—cleaning—into a full-time career. For the past 15 years, I’ve been working in cleaning and property management, giving me the opportunity to work with many people and businesses across Savannah. In addition to my professional work, I’ve had the pleasure of hosting trivia at Service Brewing for the last five years. I love to entertain and educate, bringing people together for fun and connection. I truly enjoy getting to know my neighbors and being involved in the community, as well as seeing inside so many of the beautiful spaces Savannah has to offer.

How long have you lived in the Thomas Square neighborhood?
Please provide some details about your story in respect to how you came to live in our community. 

I’ve lived in and out of the Thomas Square neighborhood for the last 15 years, my current streak is 6 years. I love the walkability of the neighborhood and seeing how much its grown and changed.

What do you do professionally?
Please share a bit about your profession and how it impacts you and your relationship with the community. 

I began my career as a case manager, working with homeless men and women with children. This experience taught me the importance of empathy, problem-solving, and advocacy, and it further fueled my desire to serve and support those in need. I worked closely with individuals to help them become stable and find housing, which gave me a strong understanding of the challenges our community faces.

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For the past 15 years, I’ve been a self-employed house cleaner, managing residential homes, vacation rentals, offices, historic museum homes, bars, and construction cleans. If it’s dirty, I’ll clean it! My business has allowed me to work in a variety of spaces and connect with people from all walks of life. This has not only enhanced my work ethic but also deepened my relationships within the community, as I’ve built long-term connections with clients and neighbors alike.

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My profession has allowed me to witness the unique needs and beauty of our neighborhood up close. I take pride in maintaining and improving the spaces where people live, work, and gather.

Why are you interested in serving on the TSNA Board of Directors?
Explain what drew you to make this decision to volunteer to serve your community on the TSNA board.

I’ve lived in Thomas Square for the past 6 years and seen so many changes, mostly for good. The residents of Savannah are what makes it so special and I want to be a part of the further growth of the community to make sure the needs of the residents are met and the community is working for us and businesses that make Thomas Square so vibrant.

What do you see as the top challenges for our neighborhood, and how do you think the board should address them? 
Some examples we see as top issues facing our neighborhood in the coming years are the potential expansion of Savannah’s To-Go Cup district, hotel development, the ongoing affordable housing crisis, rising property taxes due to property value inflation, and increasing crime & homelessness challenges.

Expanding the to-go cup district to Victory Street would help clarify things, as our side of town has become home to so many popular bars and restaurants. It’s important that we make this district’s boundaries clear to avoid any misunderstandings, while also maintaining consistency in the neighborhood, and supporting the business that call it
home.

Another challenge we face is continued development of hotels within our neighborhood. While Savannah is a popular tourist destination, we already have a strong concentration of hotels in the historic districts. Adding more hotels here would further increase the imbalance between tourists and residents, which could diminish the unique character of our neighborhood. Additionally, I worry that expanding hotel development would drive up rents in our area, making it even more expensive for residents to live here. We’ve already seen how rapidly rent prices have increased, and the loss of affordable housing options is a growing problem. We need to ensure that our community remains accessible to those who live and work here, and that means prioritizing affordable housing in walkable areas.
 

Finally, the issue of homelessness in Savannah has only grown more urgent, and it ties directly into the lack of affordable housing. We’ve seen a reduction in public housing and transitional housing options, and without intervention, this will only exacerbate the problem. Addressing homelessness in a way that provides real solutions, like increasing affordable housing opportunities, is critical to maintaining the vitality of our community.

What steps would you take to bring the community together, inspire engagement, bolster membership & attendance at meetings, and give residents a stronger voice?
Community involvement has always been a cornerstone of the Thomas Square neighborhood, but there is much room to inspire more participation and engagement moving forward.  

As someone who is deeply engaged with various people throughout our community, I believe the first step in bringing us together is fostering open, welcoming spaces for communication and collaboration. I enjoy meeting new people and hearing their perspectives, and I believe that this approach can inspire others to feel more connected
and invested in our neighborhood. Engaging younger residents is a key priority for me. Many may not be aware of how they can positively impact their neighborhood, or how fun it can be! I believe it’s crucial to empower them with information and opportunities for involvement.

What skills, connections, resources, or expertise do you bring to the table that will help TSNA navigate these rapidly changing times and serve the neighborhood effectively?