Good Shepherd Housing Press Contact: Candice Bennett, cbennett@goodhousing.org, 703-559-1744
Good Shepherd Housing Announces New Executive Director
Lorton, Virginia — The Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services (GSH) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Genee Hayes has been named as its new Executive Director. Ms. Hayes succeeds David Levine who was the Executive Director for 14 years.
The GSH Board of Directors and staff look forward to working with Ms. Hayes during this time of transition to new leadership of the organization. Recognized as a foremost expert in affordable housing in the region, she will be a strong advocate for GSH and its mission. In her new role, she will advance the critical work of the organization with our partner agencies, local businesses, and community members and a future of expanded housing opportunities and client services.
“The Board of Directors is extremely pleased that Ms. Hayes will be joining GSH as our Executive Director and bringing a new energy to our organization,” said Erica McCants, Chair of the Board of Directors. “She is a strong leader who will support the objectives of our strategic plan and provide her vision to continue our impact in the community.”
Ms. Hayes is a leader defined by her resilience, dedication, and a knack for inspiring change. With a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and over 14 years of experience, she has carved a niche in public service, marked by her thoughtful and energetic approach. Her expertise in city management and operational excellence, combined with her innovative policy-making skills, have significantly shaped community development. Ms. Hayes led the multi-family affordable housing portfolio and single-family foreclosure prevention programs at the DC Department of Housing and Community Development as the Division Director for Affordable Housing Asset Management. She managed an extensive affordable housing portfolio of over 500 multifamily properties, valued at $1.8 billion. She also established the District’s Homeowner Assistance Fund program, which has been a vital resource for 2,000 low-income households, helping them avoid foreclosure through a $50 million federal grant.
But what truly sets Ms. Hayes apart is her personal narrative. Having grown up in affordable housing with a newly widowed mother, her life experience has endowed her with an acute awareness of the challenges faced by many families. This background fuels her passion for creating meaningful change and underscores her dedication to the mission of Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services. In her new role, she brings not only her professional acumen but also a profound empathy and a lived understanding of the power of community support.
“I honestly feel like this opportunity at Good Shepherd came looking for me – it feels like coming home, “said Ms. Hayes. “The services at Good Shepherd remind me of being that little girl again, lifted up through community support.”
When not immersed in her community-building work, you’ll find Ms. Hayes in her element at home, often with gardening gloves on and her trusty assistant, Penny (her loyal dog), by her side. And when it’s game time, her home transforms into a hub of excitement, rallying her family – her husband and three kids, aged 17, 5, and 3 – to cheer on her favorite Kansas Jayhawks basketball team.
About Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services
Since 1974, GSH has been reducing homelessness and enabling self-sufficiency by providing permanent affordable housing, emergency financial services, budget counseling and case management to working families in Fairfax County. Earning recognition and awards for its work, GSH received the 2013 Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management in a competition with 48 leading regional nonprofits. GSH has also been selected as one of the best nonprofits over many years by the Greater Washington Catalogue for Philanthropy.
For more information, please visit www.goodhousing.org.