Transition will occur over the next month
Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 509-625-6740
Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 4:19 p.m.
After overseeing the successful integration of investments in housing and services to achieve better outcomes for low and moderate income individuals, the City’s director of Community, Housing and Human Services has announced that she will retire from the City next month.
Jerrie Allard was instrumental in the effort to better align housing and other associated human services into a City function under the Community Housing and Human Services department. She also worked with the three citizen advisory boards to consolidate them into a single companion entity that makes recommendations on services, affordable housing and economic opportunities.
“We have been focused on better connecting resources to the people who need them most, and Jerrie has been a big part of that effort,” said Mayor David Condon. “She has done a lot for the City and those who are underserved.”
Allard has been with the City for eight years. Her last day is Dec. 12. Jonathan Mallahan, director of Community and Neighborhood Services, is working with Allard, the board and agency partners on the transition over the next several weeks.
“I have had the honor of serving this great City for more than eight years, under the leadership of three Mayors,” Allard said. “I am so proud of what the Community, Housing and Human Services Board, staff and I have accomplished together during this time.”
Under Allard’s leadership, the team has implemented a new single-family coordinated intake process to ensure that services best match the unique situation, connected patients to non-medical services upon discharge, and implemented a program that focuses multi-disciplinary professionals on getting chronic-need individuals into housing and services. CHHS has also championed improved access to low-barrier housing and provided a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to increase housing stability among families.
“I’ve been around for 15 years and this is by far the best working relationship I’ve seen us have with the City,” said Rob McCann, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Spokane. “The ultimate goal is to reach out and serve the poor, the vulnerable and those living in the margins in this community, together, we are doing just that.”
Added Marilee Roloff, president and CEO of Volunteers of America: “Jerrie is one of the most ethical and skilled administrators that I have ever worked with. The City has encouraged us to collaborate so we can better serve the community. A lot of effort has gone into streamlining the process.”
Arlene Patton, chair of the citizen CHHS board praised the efforts of Allard and her team for its commitment and work to curb homelessness in Spokane. The City’s innovative strategies on ending homelessness have put Spokane on the national stage.
“We’re making a tremendous difference in the community,” Patton said.
