JCHE Board Selects New President and CEO
Mass Housing & Community Development Leader to Assume Post in August
BOSTON, MA, April 28 -- Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly (JCHE), a leading non-profit organization nationally recognized for excellence in developing, managing and providing affordable housing to low income seniors, today announced that Amy Schectman, an accomplished and highly regarded leader in affordable and subsidized housing and development in Massachusetts, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 16, 2010.
"After conducting an extensive national search, Amy stood out because of her unparalleled success working to increase affordable housing opportunities for low-income residents over the course of her remarkable career," says Merle Grandberg, Chairperson of JCHE's Board of Directors. "We are very excited to have someone as highly qualified as Amy lead our organization. As JCHE continues to grow and expand, it's critical that we have the expertise necessary to maximize and provide quality housing, innovative programs and supportive services for low income residents. With nearly 1,000 seniors on our waiting list, Amy's leadership, background and success in the housing industry will ensure that we meet our goals and continue on our current growth trajectory," adds Grandberg.
Amy currently serves as the Associate Director for Public Housing & Rental Assistance for the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) where among her many accomplishments she has led the State's effort to leverage and attract new funding to preserve and restore public housing units for thousands of low-income families. She also created a sustainability program to install renewable and high efficiency energy systems and launched the first phase of a major water conservation effort expected to save the state $2 million per year by 2012. Before that, Amy served as Vice President of Real Estate Development at Hebrew SeniorLife where she managed the permitting and design processes that paved the way for the development of NewBridge, a one million square foot multi-generational mixed-use senior campus. Previously, she was the Economic Development Officer in the Town of Brookline where she helped negotiate the Town's first friendly 40B affordable housing development to create 50 units of mixed-income affordable housing. Her earlier experience included serving as the Director of Program and Administration at The Boston Housing Authority.
"I was drawn to this unique opportunity at JCHE to lead one of the nation's most successful communities in providing quality housing opportunities for low income seniors in a rich environment where residents are actively engaged in programming as well as to ensure the preservation of the properties in Brighton, Newton and soon Framingham. The JCHE name is well known and synonymous with quality senior housing. In keeping with Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) - I look forward to spreading the word to the broader community," added Schectman.
Schectman will succeed Ellen Feingold, nationally recognized as an expert in the area of affordable senior housing who is retiring after 28 years of distinguished service as President. Under Feingold's leadership, JCHE has grown substantially since its establishment in 1965 as the Jewish community's response to an affordable housing crisis for seniors. With five buildings housing over 1,300 seniors in Brighton and Newton and a new 150-unit mixed income residential building - Shillman House - currently under construction in Framingham, JCHE makes it possible for residents, whose average age is 81, to live out their lives in their own JCHE home, even as they face the challenges of aging. Under Feingold's guidance, JCHE has enabled residents to have access to an extensive array of life-enhancing programs and supportive services that are the hallmark of its senior housing. Through innovative programs, such as JCHE's national award-winning Generations Together program that offers seniors the opportunity to connect with and mentor young people, residents remain encouraged by supports like these, which are designed to enhance and facilitate healthy aging.
"For the last 28 years, it has been my greatest honor to have helped JCHE become one of the nation's largest providers of Jewish-sponsored, non-sectarian housing for low-income seniors. I am so glad that the organization will be led into the future by Amy Schectman, someone with her mix of skills, talent and energy. Amy is the ideal person for this mission," says Feingold.
A farewell party for Ms. Feingold is planned for June. She will assist with the transition in anticipation of Schectman's arrival in mid-August. The Ellen Feingold Fund for Resident Services has been established in her honor to preserve and enhance the supportive services that have become JCHE's hallmark under Ms. Feingold's leadership.
About Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly
JCHE is nationally recognized for excellence in developing and managing affordable senior housing. Our buildings in Brighton and Newton are home to 1,300 seniors who live in their own apartments even as they face the challenges of aging. A sixth building - Shillman House - is now under construction in Framingham. This 150-unit building will include 90 units reserved for low-income seniors and 60 units attractively priced for seniors with higher incomes. To learn more about JCHE, go to www.jche.org. To follow the progress of the Shillman House construction, go to http://jcheonline.blogspot.com.
