The president and chief executive of the Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority has resigned, and the agency has begun the search for new leadership, an LMHA official announced Wednesday.
Demetria Simpson, LMHA’s top executive since June, 2017, intends to relocate with her husband closer to their family, according to LMHA. Ms. Simpson has taken a job with BGC Advantage, a Louisiana-based affordable housing development, consulting and management firm.
Ms. Simpson’s career at LMHA began in 2015 as director of real estate development and modernization, and continued as chief operations officer.
A search committee has been in place since December to find her successor, according to LMHA. The transition is expected to take place within 90 days.
LMHA board Chairman Bill Brennan said in a written statement Wednesday that Ms. Simpson’s leadership and commitment will be missed.
“I really cannot stress enough what Demetria has accomplished for LMHA and the community as a whole,” he said. “She has led LMHA into a new era of engagement in our community where we have become much more collaborative with local partners in a variety of endeavors. Our work with the Homelessness Board stands out as a prime example of that, where we worked with community partners to reorganize a system that was not fulfilling the needs of the community and the residents it serves.”
The Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board in November hired a new executive director, restructured its board, and began a formal partnership with LMHA, though it remains its own nonprofit. The goal is to ensure area organizations better coordinate housing initiatives and make sure they’re not duplicating services.
Ms. Simpson’s departure comes after the public housing authority marked a milestone this month with the completion of the third phase of a new housing development, Collingwood Green, near downtown.
In 2011, LMHA demolished two 70-year-old public housing complexes, the Albertus Brown and Brand Whitlock homes, and began a $45 million rebuilding process. The result is a modern, 65-unit complex for those 55 and older, and two town house-like developments with a combined 123 units.
But at the same time that the housing authority is opening new units, it is struggling with a growing list of people waiting to be placed in public housing.
Officials on Tuesday closed the public housing waitlist for the first time since 2005, citing concerns they would not realistically be able to house people “in the immediate future.”
There are about 3,000 people on the waitlist, while the agency has 2,633 public housing units, most of which are occupied.
First Published February 19, 2020, 3:34 p.m.
