San Juan Community Home Trust President to Leave Organization

— from Sarah Crosby, San Juan Community Home Trust Board President —

After 11 years of service as the Executive Director of the San Juan Community Home Trust, Nancy DeVaux has announced that she will retire on June 1, 2017.

During her time with the Home Trust, Nancy led the organization through the new construction of 19 homes in the Salal and Sun Rise Phase I neighborhoods, and then facilitated the sale/resale of 45 of our 53 home sales, including 5 sales which are pending. She was also instrumental in the annexation of land for 120 permanently affordable homes into the Town of Friday Harbor. She is currently leading the development of the newest neighborhood, Sun Rise Phase II, comprised of 12 homes saved from demolition in Canada which will be renovated to provide permanently affordable homes for low and moderate income island residents. This innovative project has gotten global media attention as well as Congressional interest. In performing these roles, Nancy has developed strong working relationships with federal, state, county, and local government leaders, as well as in the business community, and with homebuyers, and other non-profits.

“I am proud to have played a key role in bringing our government leaders, the business community, and local activists, together with our very generous donors to address the problem of permanently affordable housing, which has reached a crisis level in our county. And, while I am retiring, I fully intend to stay active in the Home Trust and the issue of housing affordability.” When contacted, one of the founders of the Home Trust, Larry Soll said “For the past eleven years, Nancy has been our leader, safely guiding the Home Trust through many challenging times, maintaining good relations with homeowners and being our face to the community. I have enjoyed working with her tremendously and look forward to her continued commitment to the organization.”

Nancy is announcing her retirement date now to ensure that there will be adequate time to search for, hire, and train a successor. Accordingly, the Home Trust Board will be formally announcing the position opening within the next month and anticipates interviews beginning in early November.

For more information on the San Juan Community Home Trust and opportunities for those seeking affordable housing, please contact Nancy DeVaux, Executive Director, at (360) 378-5541