New Hope Housing Choose New Executive Director
This article is shared from Patch.com
ALEXANDRIA, VA — New Hope Housing, a nonprofit running homless shelters and housing programs in Northern Virginia, has named its new leader.
Starting Monday, Ashley McSwain is the new executive director of New Hope Housing. She succeeds interim executive director William Gorman, who has been in the role since October 2021. The selection comes after longtime executive director Pamela Michell retired.
"We extend our congratulations and a warm welcome to Ashley McSwain as New Hope Housing’s next chief executive officer," said Ronnie Bagley, president of New Hope Housing's board of directors. "She brings a wealth of experience to the position, and we look forward to her leadership in the years to come. We also wish to share a heartfelt thank you to interim executive director William Gorman for his leadership, insights, and commitment to New Hope Housing during our time of transition."
McSwain, who has 25 years of experience with nonprofits providing housing and other services for marginalized residents, was appointed by the nonprofit's board of directors. She was recently executive director for Community Family Life Services, a DC nonprofit serving women who are transitioning from incarceration. Leading the nonprofit for eight years, she managed five housing locations, developed reentry programs, raised funds and advocated to government and community leaders.
She is also president and principal facilitator of Consultants for Change Inc., a consulting firm that focuses on social justice issues with initiatives like the Women’s Reentry Initiative and Leaders of Color Coaching Initiative. McSwain also has past experience with Our Place DC, which provides wrap-around services and case management to women currently or formerly incarcerated; Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition, which provides housing and case management to homeless and low income families; and Bucks County Housing Group, which provides housing and social services to homeless and low- income families.
McSwain also teaches part time at Catholic University in the Graduate School of Social Work and has been on the adjunct faculty at American University as a practicum advisor. She is a social worker licensed in Maryland and DC with a master's of social work from Temple University, and master's of science in organization development from American University as well as a member of the Association of Social Workers and board member of The Sentencing Project.
New Hope Housing runs housing programs and homeless shelters in Arlington County, Fairfax County, City of Alexandria, and City of Falls Church. That includes running Fairfax County's Bailey's Shelter and Supportive Housing and Eleanor U. Kennedy Shelter.
