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The Chaffee Housing Authority (CHA) Board of Directors will host two upcoming “Meet and Greets” with its new Executive Director, Ashley Kappel. This is organized as an opportunity for community members and elected officials to meet Kappel and hear a few words from her about CHA’s developing projects, plans, and goals.

Ashley Kappel, newly appointed Executive Director of the Chaffee Housing Authority. Courtesy photo

 The Meet and Greet event in Salida is scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 6 at the Boathouse Taproom, 228 North F Street, Salida.

The Meet and Greet event in Buena Vista is set for 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Monday, June 12 at the Deerhammer Distillery, 321 East Main Street, Buena Vista.

 “We hope folks will come out and learn more about CHA, meet our new Executive Director, and hear what we are doing as a team to address the affordable housing crisis,” said CHA Board Chair Craig Nielson.

“As a public organization, we welcome input from all sectors and all corners of the community,” he added. “We are all affected by the crisis and therefore we all have a stake in the outcomes. We are excited to have Ashley on board and look forward to working with her to develop our strategic direction over the next 12-18 months.”

 Kappel was appointed to serve as the CHA Executive Director at the April 20, 2023 CHA board meeting, and started in the position on April 24, 2023. Kappel’s six-month operations plan focuses on four key priorities:

  • Affordable housing development in the community,  prioritizing resolving the Jane’s Place funding gap and getting the project under construction again in collaboration with the new Jane’s Place Committee (formed at the May 18 CHA board meeting), as well as a new Partnership Program to begin negotiations with one or more local developers that will result in affordable, deed-restricted multifamily rental units for the community.
  • Updating the CHA Strategic Plan, accompanied by a listening tour of 45 key community stakeholders;
  • In collaboration shore up the finances and operations of the organization, setting a plan with the Board of Directors to raise a sustainable funding source for the organization.
  • Continue outreach to stakeholders to identify common goals, build relationships, and form alliances.