SANTA MONICA—On Wednesday, January 7, the city of Santa Monica announced on its website the appointment of Aileen Reynolds as the next Director of the Housing and Human Services Department.
Reynolds brings more than a decade of experience in affordable housing and housing policy. She previously served as Assistant Commissioner of Housing Opportunity at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, where she oversaw a team of more than 75 employees dedicated to placing vulnerable New Yorkers into stable, secure housing. Under her leadership, the department achieved record-breaking outcomes, securing housing for more than 43,000 households.
Reynolds replaces outgoing director Heather Averick, who will remain with the city in a part-time role working on special projects in the City Manager’s Office.
“Aileen rose to the top of a highly competitive national recruitment because she brings exceptional technical expertise paired with a deeply values-driven approach to leadership,” said City Manager Oliver Chi. “She is a proven builder of systems that expand housing access, and just as importantly, she leads with an authentic humility – a vital quality essential in building our team-oriented One SaMo culture across the organization. As we advance our Realignment Plan, Aileen’s collaborative leadership style and ability to center people while delivering results will be a tremendous asset to Santa Monica.”
Reynolds began her housing career as a project coordinator for a 500-plus-unit affordable housing development in the Bronx and has worked across multiple facets of affordable housing, including property management, housing marketing, and the development of equitable housing access policy. Her prior professional experience includes roles with the New York City Housing Development Corporation, Richman Property Services, and the Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University.
As Santa Monica’s Director of Housing and Human Services, Reynolds will oversee the Santa Monica Housing Authority and lead efforts to expand affordable housing opportunities citywide. Her responsibilities will include directing programs, services, and funding for the city’s Human Services Grants Program, as well as continuing implementation of the city’s Homelessness Strategic Plan.
In addition, Reynolds will help lead execution of various elements of the city’s Realignment Plan. This work will include partnering across departments to implement a vacant property registry and rent registry, advancing the city’s Housing Element goals with a renewed focus on the Downtown core, and overseeing the replacement of the SAMOSHEL homeless shelter with a new housing-first system of care.
“I am thrilled to be joining the City of Santa Monica during this important period of realignment and revitalization,” Reynolds said. “I look forward to working alongside the Housing and Human Services team and our citywide partners to advance programs and policies that serve the community with compassion and effectiveness. I’m grateful for the opportunity to take on this important responsibility and can’t wait to get started.”
Reynolds will join the city effective on Monday, January 12, with an annual salary of $258,756.