ABOUT AVALON HOUSING
Avalon Housing (“Avalon”) works to end homelessness by developing affordable housing centered on community, care and support.
Since 1992, Avalon Housing has been Washtenaw County’s leading provider of affordable, long-term housing with built-in care and support for those who need it. This approach, known as supportive housing, is widely considered the best long-term solution to homelessness. Supportive housing prioritizes the health and well-being of every tenant by providing resources to help them stay—and thrive—in their homes. Avalon believes that the most essential need for people and families experiencing homelessness is immediate, safe, and permanent housing. From there, they can meet all other challenges.
Through the support of community partners and donors, Avalon tenants and clients can choose from a wide range of supportive services:
- Case management: assessment, goal setting and action plans
- Access to 24/7 on-call crisis response
- Assistance with basic needs and maintaining a safe and healthy household
- Advocacy and support with healthcare, substance use and mental health systems
- Primary medical care
- Medication management and transportation to critical appointments
- Support and advocacy around parenting and child welfare
- Financial advice and eviction prevention plans for at-risk tenants
Avalon provides support to people at all phases of life and also brings neighbors together through its community wide activities, which include community resource centers, food pantries, and programs for adults and youth to reduce isolation, increase engagement and foster hope.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Avalon Housing is seeking a dynamic, authentic and exemplary leader to serve as its next Executive Director.
The Executive Director will inherit a mission-driven team and Board to carry forward the work of Avalon following the transition of an effective and highly respected leader, Aubrey Patiño. An employee of the organization for 18 years, and serving as its Executive Director for the last five, Aubrey has built a strong and inclusive team-oriented culture while growing and strengthening Avalon’s place as a leader in the supportive housing space locally and nationally.
As the organization enters its next chapter, it will focus on deepening its impact and dedication to equity, operational excellence, organizational sustainability and innovation. The Executive Director will provide continued strategic leadership in partnership with staff, Board and the community, spearheading the implementation of Avalon’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan and long-term strategies. The Strategic Plan outlines five key ways in which Avalon will realize its five year vision:
1 . Demonstrate stated values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
2 . Assess the quality and impact of Avalon’s efforts to support current and future clients.
3. Scale operations for growth while maintaining core values.
4 . Create a real estate development strategy that balances quality with quantity.
5. Clearly articulate Avalon’s story, approach, and impact.
This is an exciting opportunity to serve as a key community leader and to significantly affect Avalon’simpact in the years to come. Avalon staff, Board, tenants, and community partners will look to the Executive Director to think creatively, and strategically about current opportunities and challenges facing Washtenaw County and propose feasible and collaborative ways Avalon can continue to be a highly effective force in the community and broader supportive housing industry.
The Executive Director will lead, direct and enhance all operational, financial and strategic infrastructure and goals, including funding sources and donor development, fiscal management, staff oversight and professional development, community and advocacy relations and administrative matters.
Equity in all of its forms will be at the center of Avalon’swork, both in the internal culture and in the external work of Avalon’s impact in the community. An effective convener, the Executive Director will be able to think nimbly through ambiguity and have a genuine interest in thoughtfully engaging others through transparency, collaboration and mutual respect.
This next leader will also be a highly visible and credible member of the community, representing Avalon among peer organizations, government and civic leaders and other key stakeholders across the supportive housing landscape and beyond. Building on a strong foundation, the next Executive Director will need to be human-centered, politically savvy, trauma-informed, and know how to navigate a variety of different audiences and constituents.
CONTACT
Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Tiara Muse and Erin Reedy are leading the search. To express interest in this role please submit your materials by filling out our Talent Profile or email the team directly at avaloned@koyapartners.com.
To view the full Position Profile, please download the PDF file.