PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula Housing Authority has new leadership.
The organization’s board of commissioners announced early last month that after 14 years with the agency executive director Kay Kassinger would retire April 30.
On May 1, Sarah Martinez stepped into the role of Peninsula Housing Authority (PHA) executive director.
Martinez has worked for the organization since 2006, most recently Director of Asset Management.
She brings 20 years of private and public housing experience to her now role with PHA.
During her tenure, Kassinger was instrumental in increasing affordable rental and home ownership opportunities in Clallam and Jefferson counties by directing numerous development projects from the West End of Clallam County to eastern Jefferson County to include Burke Place Apartments, Maloney Heights, The Outpost, Eklund Heights as well as more than 100 single family homes constructed through the USDA Rural Development Mutual Self Help Build program.
Kassinger led the agency team in the preservation of Peninsula Apartments, Wildwood Terrace Apartments and Garden Court Apartments, three USDA Rural Development properties at risk of converting from affordable rental housing to market rate rental housing.
Most recently, Kassinger guided the mixed-finance development of Sea Ridge Apartments, Phase 1 of Mount Angeles View Public Housing redevelopment master planned site located in Port Angeles.
Sea Ridge increases by 30 the affordable rental units on site and includes a homeless housing referral program specifically for families with children, providing the community additional opportunities for services and secure housing.
Kassinger is most proud that the next phase of the redevelopment that includes the new Port Angeles unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula currently under construction on site, PHA representatives said.
For more information about the Peninsula Housing Authority, call 360-452-7631 or email info@ peninsulapha.org.
