Executive Director’s Message

It’s a great pleasure for me to write this message as I approach the first anniversary of my tenure as Executive Director. Since coming to the Authorities in July, 2006, I have gotten to know the leaders and residents of a truly great community. As an outsider coming in, the first thing that struck me about Lancaster is the depth of commitment to maintaining the County’s quality of life. Issues and challenges abound, as they always do, but Lancaster seems eager to engage the future. In this regard – the spirit to move forward and seek solutions - Lancaster has exceeded all expectations, and it is a privilege to be a part of it.

It’s easy for an executive director to be full of ideas but nothing gets done without clear vision on the part of a board of directors and solid follow-through on the part of staff. Our Authorities have been blessed with both. I want first to extend my thanks to the board – Cindy Stewart, Neil Kinsey, Ralph Murray, Jim Shultz and Miriam Fletcher – for their support as I explore new directions. And the staff has been terrific, welcoming the “new guy” and redoubling their efforts to make the Authorities the best they can be. I couldn’t ask for a better team.

Primary attention must be paid to our core business of administering HUD funds, both for community development and housing vouchers. With HUD budgets holding steady at best and shrinking at worst, we are called on to deliver services with the greatest possible efficiency. To ensure that this happens, we have updated our strategic plan and over the summer will review each of our operating programs.

As we move forward, partnerships will play an ever-increasing role in our delivery of services. Any one organization can only do so much, but by banding together we are much more effective. A prime example is the new Borough Revitalization Collaborative. Four organizations – LCHRA, Lancaster County Planning Commission, the Economic Development Company of Lancaster and the Building Industry Association – are joining forces to pursue key revitalization projects in borough downtowns. The combination of planning and economic development across both the public and private sectors provides an extremely dynamic tool for project development.

Another important partnership includes the new Lancaster Housing Coalition, which grew out of the 2006 Housing Summit. I am pleased to serve on the steering committee for this alliance that I am confident will emerge as an effective voice for housing policy and planning.

We face several major challenges in the years ahead. The supply of affordable housing in the County is far below the demand we experience for Section 8 vouchers. Hundreds of worthy families, many of them representing the workforce that keeps our manufacturing and service sectors going, are unable to find the housing they need close to where they work. Solving the problem will require the participation of every municipality in the County. Excellent plans are in place to offer solutions, but the devil is always in the details, and many challenges await us in the coming months and years.

Still, the opportunities just keep coming. I look forward to launching into “year two” and many more to follow.

Sincerely,

Matthew T. Sternberg

Executive Director