The new Squamish Community Housing Society (SCHS) has its first executive director.
Matt Simpson has been hired after the society worked with a recruiter from Vancouver for the last few months, a news release states.
He officially starts on July 18.
He’s worked as a shelter manager and outreach worker with the society, among other things.
Simpson was previously with the Salvation Army for 11 years in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Vancouver and then, most recently, New Westminster.
There he has been managing the Stevenson House Shelter since 2017.
"Matt is bringing his lengthy experience in the non-profit housing sector to help the board and the society get established and up and running as quickly as possible," reads the news release.
"On behalf of the voting members of SCHS, I’d like to welcome Matt to the society and congratulate him on his hiring, and we all look forward to starting the work to help the society mature into an active participant in the non-market housing community in Squamish."
The release states the organization will be announcing board appointments, completing the makeup of the society and making it operational.
Formally established in December of 2021, the aim of the Squamish Community Housing Society is to increase the supply, availability and access to affordable housing in town.
It operates independently but in collaboration with the District as a non-profit organization governed by a board of directors. The board includes a member of municipal council, as well as representatives from various local housing-related organizations and stakeholders.
