10/30/2014

CSH Names Katie Kitchin Director in Ohio

CSH has tapped Catherine "Katie" Kitchin as the Director in Ohio.

CSH has made an impact in Ohio, promoting and increasing the development of supportive housing, a proven solution that reduces chronic (longer-term) homelessness and serves many other vulnerable people such as veterans who are homeless, mentally ill persons leaving state institutions, and those reentering communities from jails or prisons.

"To date, CSH has invested close to $13 million in loans, grants and services in Ohio resulting in the creation of over 3000 supportive housing units," said Kitchin. "Thousands of men, women and children have been helped and I am proud to be part of an organization that is successfully advancing real solutions to prevent and end homelessness in our state and nation."

Kitchin emphasized that she is looking forward to growing CSH initiatives in Ohio, such as:

  • Efforts to expand the "Home For Good" rental subsidy to provide permanent supportive housing to persons involved in the mental health courts in Ohio
  • "Returning Home Ohio," a permanent supportive housing program for individuals exiting state prisons with a mental health disability and homeless or at risk of homelessness
  • CSH training and expert technical assistance that helps local leaders and providers in Ohio develop and sustain supportive housing, through every stage from pre-development to operations.

"We are fortunate to have someone with Katie's background and passion joining our team," said Katrina Van Valkenburgh, Managing Director of CSH Central Region. "CSH had extensive interactions with Katie when she headed the Memphis Continuum of Care and we are much impressed with her commitment and what she has been able to deliver. She cares deeply about vulnerable people and is not afraid to lead and innovate to make their lives better and strengthen communities."

Kitchin brings a wealth of experience and credentials to her new position. She most recently served as Executive Director of the Community Alliance for the Homeless in Memphis, Tennessee, where she led coordination of Memphis/Shelby County's program under the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care. She also played a key role in the Memphis and Shelby County Mayors' Plan to End Homelessness. Prior to her role as Executive Director, Kitchin had been a consultant for the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development where she developed the plan to combat homelessness.

Kitchin had already established her expertise in homelessness prevention and services when she arrived in Memphis. She had previously held the post of Director, Office to End Homelessness, in Norfolk, Virginia, and had worked in the Norfolk Department of Human Services. She had been a member of the professional staff of the US House of Representatives Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources and served as former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge's Legislative Director in his Washington, DC, office.

Kitchin holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. Her BA was earned at the University of Virginia.

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