THUNDER BAY - A familiar face will be stepping into the top role at the Thunder Bay Shelter House following the departure of the previous executive director late last year.
The board of directors at Shelter House announced Michelle Jordan as the new executive director. Jordan had been serving as the acting executive director since September 2017, when Gary Mack announced he would be stepping down from the role.
Jordan said her priorities as executive director will be securing more funding to help implement new programming and housing supports.
"We are looking at becoming a little more focused on housing and getting people moving along a little quicker," Jordan said. "We are finding people are sticking around a lot longer, and that may be due to a shortage of housing right now, but we will be looking into that in the future."
Jordan has many years of experience working both in the community and advocating on behalf of vulnerable sectors of the population. She has diplomas in law and security and Aboriginal community advocacy, as well as a certificate in Aboriginal Canadian relations.
"My leadership style is probably a little more relaxed and a little more just going through the whole team," Jordan said. "I like to spend time with the front line, with the admin team, and just ensuring that everything is going well."
Having joined Shelter House in 2011 as a support worker, Jordan has been working for the last eight years through community committees to create stronger relationships with community organizations and partners.
“Michelle is passionate about advocating for our clients with a client-focused harm reduction approach while working towards transitioning them back into housing,” said Ryan McDonnell, chair of the board of directors in a media release. “We look forward to seeing the impact that she will make through her effective leadership style and her passion to house the homeless population.”
“As Michelle has experience working on numerous levels within the organization including front line, she has a full understanding of the complex needs of Shelter House,” McDonnell continued.
