SEATTLE—Sept. 6, 2016—The Seattle City Council today confirmed Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s appointment of Ahmed Abdi to the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) Board of Commissioners. The seven-member Board of Commissioners includes five at-large positions and two SHA resident positions. Abdi will serve in one of the resident positions. Commissioners are appointed to four-year terms.

The Board has oversight on SHA policies and approves the agency’s annual budget. Commissioners are also responsible for hiring the executive director, a position currently held by Andrew J. Lofton. “Mr. Abdi brings substantial community engagement experience and has done significant work related to economic progress for low-income people,” Lofton said. “He is a resident of NewHolly, and I am excited that he is joining the Board.”

Abdi is an Outreach Manager at Fair Work Center where he is responsible for organizing and conducting workshops for community partner organizations around King County. He also helps coordinate the Fair Work Collaborative, a coalition of 10 organizations committed to collaboratively educating workers on labor standards.  Abdi previously held positions with SEIU 775, Pastoralist Girls Initiative, Working Washington, African Diaspora of Washington, Somali American Public Advocacy Committee, Crest Services, and Jewish Vocational Services. He volunteers at East African Community Services and serves on the board of African Diaspora of Washington.

Abdi is replacing former resident commissioner Aser Ashkir.  He will join current board members Deborah Canavan Thiele (chair), Emily Abbey (vice-chair), Dr. Paula Houston, David Moseley, Zachary Pullin and Jermaine Smiley.

Media contact:
Kerry Coughlin
kerry.coughlin@seattlehousing.org
206.615.3506

About Seattle Housing Authority

The mission of the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) is to enhance the Seattle community by creating and sustaining decent, safe and affordable living environments that foster stability and self-sufficiency for people with low incomes. SHA provides long-term, low-income rental housing and rental assistance to more than 30,000 people in the City of Seattle. SHA owns and operates approximately 8,000 units at nearly 400 sites throughout the city. SHA also handles more than 10,000 Housing Choice Vouchers, enabling low-income residents to receive rental assistance throughout the Seattle housing market. Approximately 13,000 SHA residents are elderly or disabled and about 9,500 are children. SHA, a public corporation established in 1939, is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners, two of whom are SHA residents. Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. More information is available at seattlehousing.org.