CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Mayor Lightfoot announced the nomination of Tracey Scott to serve as the new leader of the Chicago Housing Authority, taking over from CHA’s Acting CEO, James L. Bebley.
Scott, who currently serves as the Interim Executive Director and CEO for the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, has held prior senior roles with the Atlanta Housing Authority and has 25 years of experience in expanding affordable housing opportunities for low-income communities around the country.
Lightfoot said Scott will leverage her experience to lead the CHA into its next chapter as a principal developer and provider of affordable housing for communities across Chicago. Strengthening the CHA is a critical component of the mayor’s work to improve the local housing ecosystem, according to the March 6 release.
“Tracey’s breadth of experience and dedication for improving public housing make her a perfect fit to lead the Chicago Housing Authority as we embark on our ambitious agenda to transform our city’s economic landscape,” said Lightfoot. “Stable housing is a first step toward creating opportunity and building a future for Chicago’s communities, and I look forward to working closely with Tracey and the team at CHA to provide access to safe, affordable housing for all our residents.”
Scott called the nomination an honor and said she is ready to take on the new role.
“I look forward to bringing new ideas, innovation, and perspective to the CHA, and to work alongside city leaders and community members to increase partnerships and housing solutions that will help more low-income families and children in Chicago to thrive," Scott said.
In Minneapolis at the MPHA, Scott oversees a team of 300 to ensure the delivery of housing programs and services for more than 26,000 seniors and families. When she was the Vice President of Innovation and Policy for the Atlanta Housing Authority, Scott developed agency-wide supportive housing programming and led the administration of the Section 8 voucher program serving more than 10,000 families.
Some members of the CHA board and alderman on the Committee on Housing and Real Estate approved the new leadership, but Scott’s nomination is pending approval by the CHA Board of Commissioners, which is expected to discuss the nomination at its meeting on March 17.
“Tracey’s experiences and body of work makes her well-prepared for this role,” said Alderman Harry Osterman, Chairman of the Committee on Housing and Real Estate. “I look forward to working with her to provide affordable housing throughout our wards to ensure our families, veterans, seniors, and most vulnerable residents can secure housing.”