Letter from Clare Housing’s Board Chair — October 26, 2012
A few weeks ago, Lee Lewis announced his retirement as Clare Housing’s executive director. It was with deep sadness that the board of directors accepted his resignation.
Over the past decade, Lee has been the driving force behind the growth of Clare Housing. When he joined Clare Housing as Executive Director we had one HIV-specific housing program, a budget of $500,000 and served eight people. Today, with a budget of $3 million and a staff of 75, we provide a continuum of care in four supportive housing programs that serve 150 low-income HIV-positive individuals.
Over the past 10 years, Lee has led the agency through multiple strategic plans including the merger with AIDS Care Partners in 2006. He has also been instrumental in the development of three new housing programs – Clare Apartments, Project Cornerstone and Clare Midtown. And, in response to a challenging economy, he along with the support of the staff has developed cost-effective models of care such as: independent living with supportive services, electronic monitoring and overnight asleep monitoring. Lee’s leadership and innovation will truly be missed.
We are extremely grateful that Lee provided us a long lead time on his departure. This gift of time will allow the board of directors to develop a seamless leadership transition for Clare Housing and discuss creative and innovative ways to continue providing affordable housing and supportive services to Clare Housing’s existing and future residents.
Thank you for your continued support. Clare Housing could not live out its mission without the support of the community. Over the next several months we will keep you updated on our progress as we embark on this journey and the next chapter for Clare Housing.
Yours truly,
Chuck Peterson
Board Chair