In April 2024, Acton Housing Authority’s (AHA) Board of Commissioners unanimously agreed to appoint Melissa Bible as the new executive director, following Kelley Cronin’s retirement. The commissioners had conducted a statewide search, including posting the position on many websites and in periodicals to find the most qualified candidate.
The Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (“EOHLC”) sets the required minimum qualifications for an executive director of medium sized housing authorities, those managing 200-499 units available for rental by low-income persons, including rental assistance units. The qualifications include four years’ experience in public or private housing, community development, public administration, non-profit administration, or a closely related field that demonstrates strong management and organizational skills; knowledge of the principles and practices of housing management, finance and maintenance systems; significant supervisory experience; excellent written and verbal communication skills; knowledge of laws regulating State and Federal housing programs; and experience working with people of various socio-economic backgrounds.
Melissa’s experience exceeded the required qualifications. Melissa has fifteen years’ experience working with public housing authorities. For five years Melissa served as the family self-sufficiency coordinator for the Leominster Housing Authority. In that role Melissa provided case management and service coordination to Section 8 residents, conducted housing inspections, calculated rents, and conducted Section 8 briefings.
Melissa first started working at the AHA in 2014 as the family self-sufficiency coordinator. In 2015 Melissa was promoted to assistant executive director for the AHA, where she has demonstrated strong written and interpersonal skills, a history of working with families and individuals and a background in Human Services and Family Development. Importantly, the AHA’s residents expressed support for Melissa as being a compassionate and professional candidate.
A lifelong resident of Leominster, Melissa dedicates her time and energy to community involvement. She is an elected member of the Leominster School Committee, serving on the finance, policy, athletics, and equity sub-committees. She is a trained birth doula, supporting pregnant women. Melissa lives with her four children, Jordan 23, Jacob 21, Elia 19, and Ben 11.
The AHA Commissioners are confident that Melissa will be a strong executive director, leading the AHA on its mission to provide safe, decent and affordable housing for low-income families, seniors and disabled people. An important goal for Melissa will be helping to develop, rent-up, and manage the forty-one apartments for low and very low-income elderly and disabled individuals the AHA is developing on Main Street.
Peter J. Berry is vice-chair of the AHA Board of Commissioners and a former Select Board member.
The Acton Housing Authority (AHA) is the largest provider of affordable housing in Acton. The AHA owns over 160 affordable rental units which are rented to low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities. AHA also manages over 170 vouchers to subsidize rents in the private market. Over 330 households receive affordable housing and pay no more than 30% of their income for rent, through the Acton Housing Authority.