FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2024
CONTACT
Maximillien Inhoff
607.341.6759
Shenae Draughn Confirmed as Elm City Communities Interim President
New Haven, CT (October 15, 2024) – At tonight’s ECC/HANH Board of Commissioners meeting, Shenae Draughn was selected as the interim President of Elm City Communities (ECC), effective November 2, 2024. Draughn, who has served as the Executive Vice President of Elm City Communities and The Glendower Group since 2009, brings a wealth of institutional experience and expertise in affordable housing and real estate development to this leadership role.
"Shenae has been a vital part of our team for over a decade," said Dr. Karen DuBois-Walton, current President. "Her dedication to our mission and her extensive background in property management and development will ensure a smooth transition as ECC continues to expand while serving the needs of our families and our community."
Draughn has played a pivotal role in developing and executing long-term strategic plans at Elm City Communities, including within The Glendower Group, the affording housing development instrumentality inside ECC overseeing Development, Operations and Housing Choice Voucher programs. With over eighteen years of experience in the real estate development industry, she has facilitated over $800 million in real estate development in the Greater New Haven area. Draughn’s expertise includes managing complex projects utilizing tax credits, private debt, and HUD financing. She previously led the agency as President in 2021 while Dr. DuBois-Walton took a leave of absence.
“I am truly honored to take on this interim role,” said Draughn. “I look forward to continuing the essential work of ECC and collaborating with our dedicated team and community partners to enhance the quality of life for our residents.”
“Shenae's proven track record and deep understanding of our organization’s goals position her perfectly to guide us during this transitional period,” said William Kilpatrick, President of the Board of Commissioners. “We are confident in her leadership, experience, and vision as we move forward.”
Draughn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Real Estate Studies from Temple University and a Master of Science in Management from Albertus Magnus in New Haven. Before her role at The Glendower Group, she served as Deputy Executive Director at the Mutual Housing Association of South Central Connecticut, where she led initiatives to promote affordable housing and supervised real estate transactions.
Dr. DuBois-Walton announced at September 17th’s Board of Commissioners meeting that she would leave ECC after 17 years to assume leadership of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.
The Board of Commissioners further authorized the formation of a Personnel Search Committee to commence the selection of an Executive Director/Secretary/President.
About Elm City Communities
About Elm City Communities / Housing Authority of the City of New Haven (ECC/HANH): We, at Elm City Communities, believe public housing is the foundation from which the American Dream will survive and thrive for generations to come. Our vision is a New Haven where every resident has a safe and decent home that they can afford and opportunities to fulfill their goals. Since becoming a HUD-designated Moving To Work (MTW) agency in 2000, Elm City Communities has become an incubator of innovation and an economic engine in New Haven, Connecticut. As a result, Elm City Communities has increased affordable housing choice, provided an array of self-sufficiency programs, created across the board cost savings measures, and spurred millions of dollars of indirect economic activity through redevelopment projects and job creation. Through the development and operation of affordable communities of choice and by providing opportunities for greater self-sufficiency in New Haven, we offer a lifeline to the American Dream.
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