City Manager Robert Layton on Thursday announced John E. Hall as the new director of Housing and Community Services, a department that provides housing and related social services to residents who are eligible for assistance under federal guidelines.
Hall has 15 years of experience in housing and community services with governmental organizations where he has effectively used resources to produce 1,400 units of housing, develop commercial real estate, and revitalize low-to-moderate income census tracts. He currently serves as deputy director of the Office of Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington, D.C., providing program administration for federally insured and assisted projects.
“I am excited to have John Hall join the City's management team,” Layton said. “His extensive experience in residential and commercial redevelopment and public housing management will be invaluable as we implement the new Housing Plan.”
Hall previously worked as Director, Department of Housing and Community Development with the Government of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C. (2011-2012); Field Office Director for HUD in both Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA (2006-11); Executive Director for the North & East Lubbock Community Development Corp. in Lubbock, TX (2004-06); Deputy Director for SouthFair Community Development Corp. in Dallas (2002-03); and Director of Nonprofit Development with the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone in New York City (2000-01). Hall has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Michigan and a master of public administration from Syracuse University.
“Wichita has a great sense of civic responsibility, and I am elated to make my home in a community with such keen awareness,” said Hall, who will start work in Wichita on Jan. 25 and earn an annual salary of $145,000. “I look forward to joining a dedicated and dynamic team.”
As head of the City’s Housing department, Hall will oversee 81 employees and a nearly $24 million budget. The Housing department supports community goals related to affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, self-sufficiency initiatives, and other social services. It uses federal funds to provide direct services and to contract with community service providers. Specifically, the department assists eligible residents with rental assistance vouchers, exterior rehabilitation grants and loans, and free paint assistance among other services. It also provides clean and safe housing to the chronically homeless. Hall succeeds Mary Kay Vaughn who retired in October. Since then, Mark Manning, the City’s Budget Director, has been serving as interim.
