HOPE Partnership has hired a new Executive Director!

CENTERBROOK - HOPE Partnership has selected Karla Lindquist as its Executive Director. Ms. Lindquist comes to HOPE with a wealth of experience in the public and private sector. Most recently, she worked as the Deputy Director of Transportation for the City of New Haven. Prior to her work in Transportation, Ms. Lindquist worked in economic development in New Haven. She previously served as a public policy fellow working with the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, as well as in several roles at a variety of non-profit organizations around Connecticut. She is an active volunteer in our region, serving on the Board of Directors for Collab and Neighborhood Music School, both based in New Haven. Her experience gives her a broad view and understanding of the importance of affordable housing to create a thriving local economy.

“Karla’s background and passion for housing make her the ideal candidate to keep HOPE’s progress going,” said David Carswell, President of the Board of Directors. “We are in the process of developing our third project, The Wellington at Madison, and Karla’s expertise will help us get this important project up and running. In addition, she will be a tremendous asset in seeking new opportunities.”

Ms. Lindquist has demonstrated her professional nimbleness through serving the City of New Haven in an elevated capacity during the initial crisis response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in her role as a founding Board member of the entrepreneurial support non-profit Collab.

“I am truly honored to lead an organization with the important mission and strong history that HOPE has,” said Karla Lindquist. “I believe we can alleviate the housing crisis in our region through collaboration with local communities, developers and funders. I can’t wait to see where HOPE will be in the years to come.”

Founded in April 2004, HOPE Partnership is a non-profit organization committed to advocating and developing affordable housing opportunities to support families living and working in southern Middlesex County and surrounding towns. HOPE’s purpose is to advocate for and create high-quality rental housing targeted to people earning between 50% and 80% of the local median income.

HOPE currently owns two affordable housing developments in Old Saybrook and Essex, with a total of 49 units. In 2012, HOPE opened Ferry Crossing, an award-winning small scale rental housing complex that has been cited as a model for communities throughout the State. The opening of Ferry Crossing highlighted the demand that exists in our region. HOPE received 251 applications for 16 units and maintains a waiting list of many qualified families. Everyday HOPE’s staff receives phone calls and emails from families asking for help in finding housing they can afford.

In the spring of 2021, HOPE completed construction and moved 17 families into new affordable housing at The Lofts at Spencer’s Corner in the Centerbrook section of Essex. In April 2022, HOPE, in partnership with the Caleb Foundation, was awarded tax credits from CHFA and a DOH loan to develop the Wellington at Madison. The estimated cost to develop this project is approx. $11,000,000 with an anticipated opening in 2024.