Announcing the Retirement of Ann Faust
It’s with mixed emotions that I write the news that Ann Faust, executive director of the Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, has announced her plan to retire from her position as of the end of January 2022. Ann deserves the heartiest thanks and congratulations as she moves into a new and more relaxed phase of her life—but all of us at the Coalition will keenly feel her loss.
Ann’s blending of quiet leadership with the patient, persistent building of relationships has been the glue that has held our Coalition together since she joined us in 2009. The accomplishments during her tenure have been impressive:
+ A 64% reduction in homelessness between 2010 and 2020
+ 465 households that remained safely housed due to our Prevention Fund—among them over 400 children
+ An increase in permanent supportive housing units from 20 to 337
+ Formation of the Meriden/Middlesex/Wallingford Coordinated Access Network
+ Development of a list of all people experiencing homelessness in our area, by name
+ Creation of affordable housing units in six towns
+ Organization of LEAD, a speaker’s bureau of people who have experienced homelessness and now serve as advocates
These achievements were not the work of any one person. They represent the efforts of all the members of our Coalition, working in concert with state, local, and federal government—with Ann serving as the central coordinating force pulling everyone together.
As far as we have come, we still have a lot to do. Just this month, our Steering Committee approved a brand-new strategic plan that calls for us to make new strides in affordable housing advocacy, system change, and racial equity. The challenges of the pandemic and the national racial justice movement are juxtaposed with the opportunities now emerging to leverage federal investment to build systems that function better for those who need them most.
Ann has graciously given us several months to conduct a search for the next leader of the Coalition. Our search committee has refined the position description to reflect the needs of the Coalition going forward and will be posting and sharing it widely in our region. Those interested in applying can do so by sending a resume and cover letter to CHHSearch@middlesexunitedway.org. If you have advice or ideas to share about our search, or a candidate you would like us to consider, please reach out to me directly. Supporters like you are our most powerful asset!
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As we move forward with our search and begin to implement our new strategic plan, we are fortunate to have Ann’s wisdom and knowledge to guide us for the coming months. We hope to hire our new ED in time for him/her to work alongside Ann for a few weeks to ensure a smooth transition. And of course, down the road we’ll be planning a celebration of Ann’s retirement that appropriately honors her stellar role in our Coalition. Until then, please join all of us at the Coalition in congratulating Ann on her achievements and wishing her well as she looks forward to her new adventure.
Sincerely,
