Collins new housing authority director
Lori Collins enjoys helping families find a clean, safe and affordable place to live in Whitefish.
Collins took over as executive director of the Whitefish Housing Authority in June after Sue Ann Grogan left to pursue other interests. Collins had already worked for the housing authority and saw the opportunity as a way to continue in a job she loves.
“I was happy to stay,” she said. “I enjoy working with people.”
Collins first joined WHA following a grant that created a new position for the nonprofit. She had a background in working with large private developers and in real estate. At WHA she finds herself assisting others to find and keep housing.
“We talk to our clients all the time,” she said. “We provide support before, during and after the process. We’re talking to them all the time and trying to help them out if they need it. I find it enjoyable.”
Collins said she often hears from people saying that affordable housing just isn’t available in Whitefish. She pointed to one new business with 80 employees that told her none of its employees could find housing here.
“We hear that all the time,” she said. “We have to find the funding to help.”
The authority is facing some challenges as it continues its mission of providing affordable housing while dealing with cuts in federal housing programs.
“Across the board cuts are hurting everyone,” she said.
Collins said changes are happening in how WHA operates because of the funding cuts.
“We used to focus on our homeownership program, but now we’re looking more at providing affordable rentals than we have in the past,” Collins said. “In the long term we’d also like to see more affordable housing for those with disabilities.”
Collins said her goal is to help people find housing and she finds it hard to even look at the three-year waiting list for WHA’s rental assistance program.
“The waiting list for need just keeps growing,” she said. “I hate being the ‘no’ person. We want to help people, but we have to find the funding.”