JOLIET HOUSING AUTHORITY

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Finance

Awaiting Data

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Chief Executive OfficerMichael Simelton (815) 727-0611 On October 09, 2013, Michael Simelton was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Housing Authority of Joliet and its development instrumentality Hope Bound Development Corporation. In 1989, Simelton came to the Housing Authority of Joliet and served in the capacity of Construction Administration Manager and was promoted in 1992 to Director of Technical Services, over all of the agency’s construction, development, inspection, maintenance, and modernization activities. In January 2009, Simelton was promoted to Deputy Chief Executive Director and on October 09, 2013, he became the Chief Executive Officer. Always an advocate of continued education and training, Simelton studied business at Waubonsee Community College and received an Associate Degree in Science. He then graduated from a program designed to train Housing Authority Executive Directors, sponsored by Rutgers’ University and the Public Housing Authority Directors’ Association (PHADA). Additionally, Simelton completed a Bachelor Degree in interdisciplinary studies with a minor in business at Governor’s State University (GSU). This final course work at GSU: Finance and Accounting; Labor Relations; Management Informational Systems; and Critical Thinking – multiple disciplines providing the information needed to resolve difficulties, helped shape Simelton’s critical thinking management strategies that were needed to bring the agency and its instrumentality into regulatory compliance and change the office culture. In 2006, Simelton’s development team created a 501(c)(3) instrumentality of the Housing Authority in order to build affordable housing and attract public and private funds that a Housing Authority could not. He implemented a progressive lease-to-own affordable housing model with a “good stewardship” component, allowing low-income families the opportunity to reasonably expect to become homeowners after a 15-year tax credit compliance period. His business model and development plan attracted $19 million to the instrumentality’s first project, a Market Rate Affordable Housing neighborhood consisting of 74 single family homes that were occupied in 2009. In 2013, a second phase of the project provided and additional 42 homes at a cost of $10 million. A third project that provided 68 additional affordable homes and valued at $20 million was completed and leased by the end of 2017. A fourth project will provide an additional 42 affordable homes is currently under construction and is expected to be completed and leased by the end of 2020, valued at $14 million. Overall, the instrumentality will have provided 226 new affordable housing units through an infusion of $63 million in both public and private funding resources. In 2012, it became apparent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that the Housing Authority of Joliet was experiencing both financial and management difficulties and they designated the Housing Authority of Joliet as “Troubled.” Under HUD’s Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS), the Authority received a management evaluation score of 55 points out of 100 and as a result of the evaluation score, HUD determined it was necessary to implement a change of leadership and Simelton was appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer. Soon thereafter, HUD sent in a Public Housing Agency Recovery and Sustainability (PHARS) Team to assist the Housing Authority in overcoming identified problem areas. Although Simelton was already considered a seasoned veteran within the affordable housing arena, he was immediately facing management challenges to which he needed immediate solutions. Over the next 18 months, Simelton developed and implemented plans to correct multiple deficiencies due to mismanagement. Costs had to be reduced significantly, Simelton knew he had to cut staff and programs, while motivating remaining staff to do more with less and the agency’s PHAS score had to be increased. It was a difficult road, but Simelton had faith. Under Simelton’s leadership, a staff that once totaled 70, now totaling 40, the agency improved its score 30% by 2013. Remaining steadfast and faithful to his management plan and working tirelessly to improve the office culture, he proudly announced to the City of Joliet, the staff, and the community in 2015, that HUD designated the Housing Authority of Joliet a “High Performer”, receiving an evaluation score of 91 points out of 100. A hallmark of Simelton’s varied and distinguished affordable housing career is his unwavering dedication to improving the quality of life and opportunity for Housing Authority program participants and low-income families within the community. In addition to leading the charge forward to develop more affordable housing, Simelton has developed and implemented the following opportunities designed to enrich the quality of life of the households he serves: In 2015, a program participant scholarship fund was opened with public and private donations, providing financial scholarships to participants desiring to attend institutions of higher learning. Simelton cites his faith as the reason for his success. He states that the timing of his return to college and the fact that he was in a position to assist the agency in overcoming obstacles and barriers was no coincidence. He credits the Interdisciplinary Studies program with providing the necessary guidance and flexibility to obtain the diversified knowledge needed to resolve management challenges at this agency. Simelton is a candidate for Master in Real Estate Development at Auburn University, 2021.