HousingPlus: New CEO

HousingPlus does amazing work in our area, helping those who have been plagued by homelessness, poverty and incarceration. They’ve been helping the broader community for more than two decades under the leadership of founding CEO Rita Zimmer. The organization operates transitional and permanent supportive housing across Brooklyn and the Bronx, serving over 600 women and children annually. HousingPlus recently earned top rankings from HUD for its innovative programs. After leading the organization for 23 years, Zimmer is stepping down and her large shoes will be filled by Karen Ford as Chief Executive Officer.

Ford, a Brooklyn native with over three decades of experience in New York’s social services sector, brings a deep commitment to HousingPlus’s mission: providing community-based housing and comprehensive services for women, including those with children, to help them overcome the challenges of poverty, homelessness, addiction, trauma, and the effects of incarceration. Her extensive background includes leadership roles at CAMBA, the NYC Department of Homeless Services, and the Mayor’s Office for Nonprofit Services, where she championed equitable funding and workforce improvements.

Ford’s appointment comes at a time of growth and renewed advocacy, reflecting a broader movement to diversify nonprofit leadership and embed leaders with local experience. “It is an incredible honor to step into this role,” Ford said, expressing her excitement to build upon HousingPlus’s strong foundation and continue advancing its mission of stability and empowerment for women and families.