New Executive Director At Housing Options

The Board of Directors of Housing Options for the Mentally Ill of Evanston has appointed Mary Ellen Poole as the new executive director.

Ms. Poole has served as Chief Operating Officer of the agency since July of this year.  Prior to that she served as a Housing Planner for the City of Evanston from 2010 to 2015. She also worked for the Illinois Housing Development Authority and Neighborhood Housing Services in Chicago.

Ms. Poole holds a master’s degree from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago.

Catharine Hamrick, president of the Housing Options Board, said “We are fortunate to have someone with Mary Ellen’s background and experience leading Housing Options. Her professional skills combined with her commitment to our participants and the community of Evanston make her an ideal fit.  With our move into the Evanston Civic Center this fall, this is a time of exciting positive change at Housing Options.”