William Keefer, Sanford Housing Authority director for the past 18 years, is retiring. He talked about the job and the agency in a recent interview. TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune
SANFORD – The Sanford Housing Authority, which administers close to 600 federal housing vouchers and owns or manages 300 housing units, is looking for a new executive director.
The current director, William “Bill” Keefer, who came to the agency in June 2001, is retiring. At 70, he says, it is time.
“Bill has done a great job for us,” said SHA Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Kim LaChance, noting his skill in managing new processes and rules set forth by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which regulates the agency. She said Keefer has had a long tenure at SHA as have other employees who have been with the agency for many years. “We’ve worked in so many projects in the community and we’re proud of the work done,” said LaChance. “The goal is to provide safe, affordable housing for those who need it.”
At the SHA office on School Street in Sanford on Tuesday, Keefer said interviews with applicants will be set up soon. He said he’s told the SHA Board of Commissioners he’ll stay on for a bit, once the new director is hired, to ensure a smooth transition.
He came to SHA after working for housing authorities in Portland and in Barre, Vermont. He said the next director will be assisting the SHA Board of Commissioners with carrying out board decisions that could mean changes for the agency – like a possible voluntary shift from the public housing model to a voucher-based model – and examining how some of the agency’s senior clients may be better served.
“People are aging in place,” said Keefer of the agency’s older residents. “Their needs are increasing.”
SHA manages and maintains Mayflower Place, a 35-unit assisted living facility, where services are provided by Southern Maine Health Care and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
But it also operates The Maples, a 26-unit apartment building for seniors 55 and older, along with senior housing at other properties, like Village View in Springvale, and at Sunset Towers.
Keefer sees a need for case management, working together with SHA, to help older residents in those buildings, who may need assistance with tasks of daily living.
SHA administers a number of programs and properties, from HUD’s Public Housing model to those under the federal Rural Development program, and more. In all, 122 units at Sunset Towers and East Side Acres fall under Public Housing, which Keefer says could change. There are a couple of possibilities, he said including converting to a Section 8 type voucher model – but that is a decision for the future.
He said a change could provide a better funding formula than is currently the case.
Sanford Housing Authority, an agency which is separate from the city government, has an annual budget of $4.3 million. The agency administers 593 housing vouchers in Sanford, Springvale village, Alfred, Shapleigh, North Berwick, Wells, Acton, Lebanon and Kennebunk. In all, it pays participating landlords $274,000 a month and receives $3.2 million annually from HUD for the program. As well, SHA receives about $405,000 from HUD to cover the gap between tenant-paid rent and operational costs in public housing, where tenants pay $963,000 in annual rent; and receives $159,000 from HUD for improvements to the public housing units. SHA pays close to $149,700 in property tax. According to its website, wages are about $525,000, and local operational spending comes in at $512,000 annually.
As he talked about the job, Keefer reflected on the past 18 years.
“I love this place, and it is important that it continue to be a good thing,” he said.
As to the job itself, Keefer said, “You really feel like you’re doing some good.”
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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