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20 Year Leadership Milestone for Nancy Crowder of Citizens for Adequate Housing, Inc.

Citizens for Adequate Housing, Inc.
40 Washington St.
Peabody, MA 01960
Press Release

Contact: Judith Murray at jmurray@cahns.org
June 10, 2008

For Immediate Release

Citizens for Adequate Housing, Inc. Honors Its Executive       Director for Helping to “Pave the Way”

20-Year Leadership Milestone is Recognized with Certificates, Citations, and Comments

Nancy Crowder, the Executive Director of Citizens for Adequate Housing, Inc. for the past 20 years, was honored at a “Paving the Way” Breakfast held at the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites recently.  CAH is a not-for-profit organization, located in Peabody serving the North Shore and beyond, combating homelessness for families by providing shelter and affordable housing for the last 25 years.  On the occasion of its 25th year of existence, it seemed only fitting to honor the woman who has perpetuated its existence and its keeping in step with helping to eliminate the homelessness that exists.  The tribute was attended by political figures at the federal, state and local level including State Representatives Mary Grant, John Keenan, and Joyce Spiliotis; and representatives from US Congressman John Tierney’s office, State Senator Frederick Berry’s office, and Peabody Mayor Michael Bonfanti’s office.  Ms. Crowder was presented with citations and certificates by the government officials commending her for her leadership, tenacity, and know-how directing the non-profit agency.

All in attendance at the recent reception were there to recognize the 20 years of outstanding, exemplary leadership by one Nancy Crowder.  Appropriately, a “Paving the Way” campaign to enlighten business leaders on the North Shore and beyond as to how they can participate to help eradicate family homelessness is now under way.  Due to Ms. Crowder’s efforts, and that of her hand-picked staff, there have been many successes among the families Citizens for Adequate Housing provides for, and many more to follow.  To launch these efforts among business leaders, to honor CAH’s leadership, and to emphasize what CAH is about, the term “paving the way” seems only fitting.

Citizens for Adequate Housing, Inc. (CAH), welcomes all business leaders to join its efforts to help change lives to end homelessness, one family at a time.  On the North Shore specifically, CAH is a leading provider of services for families facing the devastating challenge of homelessness.  CAH wants to help pave the way for happy endings for the families served by the agency.  Today in Massachusetts there are over 3,700 homeless children, part of the 2,000 families where homelessness is a reality – one they face every day living in emergency shelters.  Every day CAH provides shelter, life-skills education and affordable housing to our neighbors in need.  Homelessness knows no seasons, knows no respite, it exists constantly for some.

With three components to its very existence, CAH is the administrative piece for the Inn Between, an emergency shelter; the Inn Transition, a sober-living transitional housing program; and the Communities Land Trust, a program that offers low-income affordable rental housing to families struggling to make ends meet.  This epidemic, not inherent to Massachusetts alone, has been assigned a special commission by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to help end homelessness once and for all.  To this end, Massachusetts has this as a priority item for its current  administration.  It is safe to say that Massachusetts is helping to “pave the way” on a state level with this mission.  Shelter is but one aspect of the dilemma.  CAH recognized this predicament many years ago, and has ever since worked to bring a new aura to families who only envisioned one way of living – a quagmire.  Dignity, hope, optimism, and giving second opportunities to families are part of the moral fiber of CAH’s existence and creed.  CAH fortifies the appearance as the “pied piper” of change for homeless families.  For the last 20 years, much of that success in such a positive direction is due to the very style and leadership of CAH’s Executive Director Nancy Crowder.  According to Ms. Crowder, “We are standing in a moment in the Commonwealth’s history where an administration has pointed a bright light onto the issue of family homelessness.  CAH will remain at the forefront of this action to end family homelessness as we develop affordable, transitional, and permanent housing and maintain our shelter structure as long as needed.”

One has only to know Nancy Crowder to know that CAH has a determination and taciturn doctrine to give its families new opportunities to stop the cycle of homelessness once and for all; to launch a path of bettering their lives.  CAH Executive Director Nancy Crowder personifies leadership; and is still going strong; kudos to her.

Photo Caption :  Citizens for Adequate Housing Executive Director Nancy Crowder (front) receives accolades from distinguished attendees including State Representatives Mary Grant (left) and John Keenan (right).