NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Housing Authority has established a search committee to help find a new executive director for the organization.
The Northampton Housing Authority is a quasi-public agency maintaining public housing at the McDonald House, Forsander and Cahill Apartments, Tobin Manor, Salvo House, and Hampshire and Florence Heights.
Northampton Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Chair Patty Healey told Reminder Publishing that the Housing Authority is tasked with managing housing of the federal government under Housing and Urban Development.
She added that with about 1,500 units in total, NHA is one of the largest groups in the state.
“We have in Massachusetts more public housing than most other states,” said Healey. “People are under the impression that public housing is funded by municipalities and by the cities and towns, and they’re not. There’s no money from cities and towns.”
Healey explained that a search committee for a new NHA executive director was just established, and the committee is made up of mostly residents and NHA board members. Sharon Kimble has served as acting executive director since the fall and also serves as the authority’s chief accounting officer.
The search committee will have their work supplemented by the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. The mission of MassNAHRO is to educate, support and advocate for its member agencies to ensure the preservation, protection and expansion of public and affordable housing.
“They’re going to do more of managing the logistics. We write the job description, they will tell us where it’s reasonable to place ads, and they will receive the resumes or contacts, and then they’ll help sort it for us in a way that is much more manageable for our committee,” said Healey.
Healey explained that the NHA will begin placing ads and job notices around the position in the coming weeks. As far as responsibilities for a new executive director, Healey said the job entails managing staff and tending to the needs of people throughout various housing settings. She also said NHA will eye candidates who are mission driven, passionate about housing opportunities for residents and certified in the financial work that comes with property management.
“We are looking for someone who’s going to promote a strong ethical work culture and has really a passion and vision for making better opportunities for residents,” said Healey.
Healey added that the search committee’s work is just getting underway, and they will conduct future meetings and discussions about what they are looking for in a new director. She hopes the committee has its next executive director locked down by the spring.
“My hope is that whoever applies will see how great it is to live in Western Mass., that Northampton is a wonderful city to live in, and we have a supportive, involved community who values social justice and the concept of providing housing for people,” said Healey. “We’re living in a time where we have horrible housing availability, and this is just one sliver of the housing world, but I’m really excited that someone might be able to really look at our community as a place they can expand their wings, develop a really great career, all in a community where it’s nice to live in.”
