Dear SHA Residents and Voucher Participants, 

It is with mixed emotions that I write to you to share the news that I have decided to retire. After more than 46 years in public service, the last 16 at the Seattle Housing Authority, I feel that the time has come. This has not been an easy decision. As I have often shared with others, this has been the most fulfilling, most rewarding and most exciting job of my career.  

Every day of my tenure at SHA, I have had the good fortune to be able to work with people who share the same values, and who share a commitment, passion and dedication to working to not only provide housing, but to help improve lives. I have had the honor of meeting many of you personally, and of serving all of you.  

With strong collaborations and partnerships, an incredible staff and our many diverse tenants, we have accomplished a lot together. We are serving more people than we ever have before, have transformed aging housing developments into vibrant new mixed-income communities, improved buildings and properties throughout the city, revamped employment, health and education services, and helped pioneer public housing authority innovations nationwide. We have expanded our housing portfolio and our services designed to help seniors and individuals with disabilities live with vitality and dignity, veterans and foster youth come in off the streets into safe housing, children and youth reach higher in their education and aspirations, and working tenants achieve better jobs and incomes. It has been a privilege to have been a part of this incredible organization and I hope you have found our housing and services of benefit in your lives. 

My last day will be May 6, 2021, which gives our Board of Commissioners sufficient time to conduct a careful process to select my successor as Executive Director. They have already begun discussions and plan to conduct a local and national search for qualified candidates.  

The challenges we have all faced this past year have only reinforced to me what an incredible community I have had the honor to be a part of. An unprecedented global pandemic was not in anyone’s plan. I have been so proud of SHA’s response, and the examples I have seen throughout the community of neighbors helping neighbors, and the resilience of people to deal with sudden and dramatic life changes. I have immense appreciation for all of you, the SHA staff and our many partners. 

I will remain fully engaged in my role over the next six months and look forward to continuing to serve you. And I have full confidence that our Board of Commissioners will ensure that SHA has the leadership needed to keep growing and strengthening our SHA community in the future.   

Sincerely, 

Andrew Lofton 
Executive Director 
Seattle Housing Authority