Shelters to Shutters (S2S), a national non-profit that transitions individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness to economic self-sufficiency, is bringing its program to North Texas.
Robin Head will join the organization as North Texas Executive Director.
S2S partners directly with the multifamily industry to support people experiencing situational homelessness with career training and opportunities for full time entry-level jobs with discounted housing at the same communities where they work. The program provides each participant with ongoing training, mentoring and access to support services to ensure a successful long-term transition. This model changes the lives of individuals and families while providing quality, motivated employees for a rapidly growing industry in need of talent.
Head will work alongside the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas (AAGD) and leaders in the business community to launch operations in the new market. In her role, Head will build a network of key stakeholders including nonprofits, workforce development training programs and corporate partnerships to support the mission of Shelters to Shutters. S2S partners with over 40 apartment management companies, such as Bell Partners, Dominium, IRT Living, IMT Residential, Middleburg Communities and Western Wealth Communities,
Head comes to S2S with more than 30 years of serving in the North Texas non-profit arena. She holds a social work degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, chaired the annual DFW Association of Fundraising Professionals Conference, and served on several local boards and task forces. Head’s work in this sector includes leadership positions in organizations with missions supporting educational opportunities for first generation students, affordable housing for families and seniors, workforce pathways for homeless veterans and formerly incarcerated individuals, advocacy, and gender equity.
“It’s such an honor for me to launch this proven social entrepreneurial solution to situational homelessness in our North Texas community,” said Head. “I look forward to providing long term solutions for individuals and families struggling to secure stable living-wage employment and housing. This S2S model can create a measurable social change in our community.”
Shelters to Shutters comes to Dallas/Fort Worth with the support of the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas. The organization recognized the win-win opportunity to provide their member multifamily companies with a new pipeline of talent for their properties while also changing the lives of individuals and families in their local communities. AAGD’s leadership contributed seed capital needed to bring S2S to the area.
“We are honored to have the support of AAGD and look forward to partnering closely with them,” said David Williams, CEO of Shelters to Shutters. “Leveraging their expertise in multifamily and their existing community engagement will allow us to hit the ground running in Dallas/Fort Worth and quickly stand up a program that will make a meaningful difference for all involved.”
Joining S2S in ensuring the sustainability of program support are nine leaders in the Dallas/Fort Worth area who will serve on the North Texas Advisory Board: Ann-Marie Bomba, President, TAM Residential; Joe Bruce, Senior Vice President, AMLI Development Co.; Steve Cagle, Senior Advisor, Employee Health & Benefits, MarshMcLennan Agency; Janine Jovanovic, Chief Growth Officer, Middleburg Communities; Scotty Landry, North Texas Advisory Board Chair, CEO, HLH Family Foundation; Wade Lowe, Director of Business Development, 5G Studio; Kin Oldham, Executive Director, Apartment Association of Greater Dallas; Zachary Patterson, Head of Multifamily Investing, The Meridian Group; Durell Vieau, Vice President, Talent Acquisition & Retention, Lincoln Property Company.
“S2S is not only doing important work in the community, but it is providing a solution to a growing problem for our industry, finding and retaining motivated talent,” said Kin Oldham, Executive Director of AAGD. “AAGD represents companies that own and operate over 3,000+ properties. We are always in need of individuals who want to work in our industry. S2S gives us the opportunity to put good people to work for us and give a new lease on life for many who often get overlooked.”
Shelters to Shutters currently operates in nine major markets: Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Houston, Nashville, the National Capital Region, North Texas Orlando and Phoenix.
