MaineHousing director sets retirement date
Courtesy / Maine State Housing Authority
Maine State Housing Authority Director John Gallagher announced last week he will retire on Jan. 5, 2018,
Maine State Housing Authority Director John Gallagher will retire on Jan. 5, 2018, after five years of leadership at the $1.6 billion financial institution.
Gallagher notified Gov. Paul LePage and MaineHousing Board of Commissioners Chairman Peter Anastos of his decision to retire.
“The decision to leave MaineHousing was not an easy one,” Gallagher said in a written statement announcing his retirement plans. “My time here has been professionally and personally rewarding. I’m proud to have contributed to the business growth of MaineHousing, along with providing leadership and guidance toward setting a new direction for the organization.”
Leadership lauded
“John Gallagher has been supremely successful in refocusing Maine State Housing on its mission to assist Maine people in obtaining and maintaining quality and affordable housing,” Anastos said. “Personally, I believe hiring John was the most important single action of the Maine State Housing board of commissioners during my term as chairman.”
Under Gallagher’s leadership, MaineHousing evaluated and re-defined its mission and goals through a strategic planning process that included its partners and customers.
By strengthening relationships with partners, including developers, local public housing authorities, community action agencies, landlords, property management companies, and state agencies, more Maine people are being served, an accomplishment that’s been achieved while funding for federal programs that MaineHousing administers has remained stable.
MaineHousing’s fiscal management has led to it maintaining an AA+ bond rating throughout the long-lasting financial crisis that began in 2008 while other housing finance authorities fell a full grade.
During his five-year tenure, MaineHousing made 3,900 first time homebuyer loans; completed 80 housing projects providing more than 2,100 with safe, decent affordable homes with another 2,500 in the pipeline; and worked with the Legislature and the governor to increase funding for homeless shelters and to restore funding for the state's affordable housing trust fund.
Long career in housing
Gallagher’s career in the housing industry spans more than 40 years. Prior to being appointed as MaineHousing’s director in September 2012, he served more than 13 years as director of Westbrook Housing Authority and president of Westbrook Development Corp. Before his tenure there, he was program manager of MaineHousing’s development department. He also has more than 20 years of experience in residential real estate.
MaineHousing is an independent state agency that bridges public and private funding to serve the housing and heating needs of more than 90,000 low- and moderate-income individuals each year throughout Maine.
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