DHA Hires Director of Housing Operations

The Durham Housing Authority has hired Emanuel Foster, a nationally recognized housing executive, as its Director of Housing Operations. Foster will plan and direct the daily management of the Authority's housing program, including: its Public Housing Program; maintenance operations; public housing units owned by third party partners; low-income tax credit complexes under contract with third party owners/partners; Rental Assistance Demonstration units; and market rate housing.

Foster has over 20 years of experience in the affordable/low-income housing industry, with a proven record of measurable success and extensive experience in all facets of housing management in the private and public sectors. He worked at the Newark Housing Authority for 20 years and held various positions such as Regional Property Manager, Director of Asset Management and eventually ending his tenure as Chief Operating Officer. During his tenure at the Newark Housing Authority, Foster achieved an agency-wide occupancy rate of 99%, professionalized the staff, and improved the Authority's overall credit rating.

"I am very excited to have Emanuel on board" said Anthony Scott, Chief Executive Officer. "With his many years of housing management experience, Emanuel will bring the needed energy and focus to improve our public housing communities, including the day-to-day management areas of repairs, maintenance and customer service as he has demonstrated in other roles."

Foster has a true passion for community service and believes the most important part of his job is to be a resource to the community. Indeed, this belief in the criticality of decent housing is in his DNA. Foster is a third-generation housing industry professional. His grandfather moved his family from North Carolina to New York City, to work as a live-in superintendent at a luxury apartment building. His father worked at the Newark Housing Authority for 24 years.

Foster received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Caldwell University in Caldwell, NJ.

For more information contact, Lorraine Erhunmwunsee, Human Resources Manager, 919.683.1551, Ext. 7279