About Cristal Azul Otero

My Background

I was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and grew up in Vancouver, Washington. My father, Jose, was a Vietnam Veteran and later a nurse at the Vancouver Veterans Administration. My mother, Debra, originally from the Midwest, worked as a nurse for 40 years throughout the region. I now live in the Brooklyn Neighborhood with my husband, our cat Doji, and our dog Buddy. I have three nieces and three nephews whom I love very much.

Growing up, I experienced life with two working parents, often on opposite shifts—one working overnight while the other worked swing shift. As one of four children, my family always worked hard to make ends meet while finding time to be together. I am of mixed race, with Native American, Chicano, German, and Irish heritage. My parents faced housing discrimination and marginalization from public institutions due to their different racial backgrounds. These experiences shape my approach as a public servant, particularly in considering how policies impact working families and those struggling with housing and financial stability.

With a Master’s degree in social work specializing in advanced macro practice, I bring over a decade of experience in housing-focused social services and government administration. My expertise includes addressing chronic homelessness and racial disparities, and I am skilled in applying a racial equity lens to assess policy impacts.