LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville native is coming home to help improve the quality of affordable housing options across the Metro.
On Wednesday, Mayor Craig Greenberg named Elizabeth Strojan as the new executive director for the Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA). She will begin working in her new role in January 2024.
LMHA has received heavy criticism from residents for years, citing mold, bugs and other unsafe living conditions in complexes like the Dosker Manor Apartments -- largely caring for senior citizens and those with disabilities.
"Those conditions are not acceptable for people to live in," Strojan said. "It obviously makes me feel sad and makes me angry that that's how people are living."
Strogan is the former senior vice president for administration and external affairs and chief of staff for the New York City Housing Development Corporation.
According to Greenberg, Strojan has over a decade of experience in leadership positions in affordable housing, calling her a "rising star in the nationwide affordable housing industry."
"Having the right leader at LMHA can make the difference between an organization that misses opportunities and one that innovates," the mayor said. "She will bring every possible tool to improving conditions as a landlord, efficiently administering LMHA’s rental assistance, and becoming a key partner to Metro’s broader affordable housing efforts.”
People living in Louisville public housing have long told WHAS11 they want a leader to intentionally make changes, rather than solely responding to residents' cries when issues arise -- to which Strojan responded, "We have to walk and chew gum at the same time. We have to stabilize the units that we have, and at the same time, we have to be out in front. We have to be proactive. We have to be looking for new solutions."
Strojan is a graduate of Manual High School, Centre College in Danville, and holds a Master of Arts in Economics and International Political Economy and Development from Fordham University in New York City.
Strojan is set to replace Lisa Osanka, who was also in the room for the announcement Wednesday. Osanka decided to step down following a turbulent end to her time overseeing thousands of public housing units across the city.
Residents have accused LMHA of mistreatment. Some Councilmembers have even compared the agency to slumlords.
But Strojan is promising to make change, and she tells WHAS11 that starts with more funding.
"These buildings are aging. They're not getting enough money from the federal government, and that's why we have to stabilize and be proactive to bring more resources in," she said.
Chanelle Helm, a local activist who's been an advocate for those living in poor conditions, says she'll remain skeptical until she sees results.
"We're definitely looking at some sustainable -- not just new, not just rehab -- but sustainable housing that comes from government funds," Helm said. "I think that's what all Louisvillians and anyone who pays taxes are looking for."
What is LMHA?
The Louisville Metro Housing Authority is a nonprofit agency responsible for the development and management of federally subsidized housing in the Metro, according to the mayor's office.
The department has an annual operating budget of $40 million and manages nearly 16,000 affordable housing units across the Metro, employing more than 250 people.
LMHA manages seven large public housing complexes -- including five for elderly and disabled residents and two for families. The department also operates hundreds of smaller affordable housing options scattered across Louisville.
It also oversees Louisville's Section 8 housing voucher program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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