Longtime housing and community development expert will continue nonprofit’s mission of expanding affordable housing
BOSTON – May 4, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) today named Aaron Gornstein, a local and national leader in the affordable housing community for 25 years, as its new President/CEO, effective June 10.
“Aaron is a highly accomplished leader and strategic thinker in the affordable housing arena,” said POAH Board Chair Herbert Morse. “POAH will benefit immensely from his proven ability to work with a range of interests and achieve real outcomes for low-to-moderate income communities. As the successor to POAH President Amy Anthony, our CEO since POAH’s beginnings in 2001, I know Aaron will build on her legacy and bring his vision for further growth to the organization. As we welcome Aaron to POAH, the Board is filled with deep gratitude to Amy Anthony for the many years she has devoted to this organization and to increasing the affordable housing stock in this country for low income families, seniors and the disabled. She has left her indelible mark on the industry and on this organization.”
“I am delighted to accept the position of President and CEO of POAH, an organization I have worked beside for so many years towards the goals of increasing the availability of affordable housing for low income families and seniors. POAH’s reputation as one of the leading nonprofit affordable housing providers in the country, led so ably all these years by founder Amy Anthony, was a compelling factor in my decision to pursue this position. I look forward to working with the Board and staff to continue to strengthen communities and families in the places where POAH operates its housing.”
Most recently, Gornstein served as undersecretary for the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), under Governor Deval Patrick, where he greatly expanded rental assistance and homeless prevention programs, reformed and improved state public housing, and launched a comprehensive supportive housing initiative, creating more than 3,000 units in two years.
Prior to that, he served as executive director of Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), where he spearheaded passage of state and federal legislation, launched innovation programs such as a housing registry for people with disabilities, and helped to form numerous coalitions including the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance.
A resident of Newton, Massachusetts, Gornstein earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin—Madison, and his Master of Arts degree in Urban and Environmental Policy from Tufts University. He was recently appointed as a Senior Research Fellow at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.
While undersecretary of DHCD, Gornstein served as chair of the Massachusetts Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation; chair of the Massachusetts Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness; and co-chair of the Joint Task Force on Housing for People with Disabilities.
Gornstein will replace Amy Anthony, President and CEO since POAH’s founding in 2001, one of the nation’s foremost experts in housing finance and policy, who is retiring this summer. She will be assisting POAH and Gornstein with the transition.
