An organization that funds affordable housing in the Quad Cities has chosen a new director. At the end of the year, Scott County Housing Council executive director Rick Schloemer will retire, and taking his place will be Leslie Kilgannon - now director of Quad Cities Interfaith.
The president of the housing council board, Tim Huey, says Schloemer has led the group since it was formed 16 years ago - helping to find up to a couple million dollars each year to spend on construction and renovation.
"Rick's been a one-man shop - tracking those funds, and providing the documentation to the funders. Because a lot of these grants are given on a reimbursement basis so you have to show how you spent the money in order to get the money paid out."
Huey says the council raises money for projects for a variety of organizations involved in affordable housing, including the Salvation Army, United Way, Interfaith Housing, and local banks. The money comes from the state of Iowa, two casinos, and contributions from banks and foundations.
"Providing good, economical housing choices for folks is often essential to providing a good workforce for potential employers. People need the ability to find housing when they have a job and we want to keep people from being homeless and we want to improve the quality of housing."
Kilgannon has led Quad Cities Interfaith for the past 12 years, and previously worked for John Lewis Community Services and the Neighborhood Housing Services of Davenport.
