LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A new executive director of Louisville Metro Housing Authority was announced by Mayor Craig Greenberg on Wednesday.

Elizabeth Strojan will officially begin at LMHA in early 2024.

Strojan — a Louisville native and duPont Manual High School graduate — takes the job after serving as senior vice president for administration and external affairs as well as chief of staff of the New York City Housing Development Corporation, posts she's held since October 2021. She began with HDC in 2017, leading the department's government affairs division and advising New York City's Department of Housing Preservation and Development on federal affairs.

"Elizabeth Strojan is a rising star in the nationwide affordable housing industry, and we are incredibly fortunate she has chosen to come home to Louisville and lead LMHA," Greenberg said in a news release Tuesday. "Having the right leader at LMHA can make the difference between an organization that misses opportunities and one that innovates. 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."

According to her biography on the HDC website, Strojan has a dual master’s degree in economics and international political economy and development from Fordham University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Centre College in Danville.

"Elizabeth Strojan has a breadth of experience in housing and a strong track record of leadership, advocacy, and relationship-building that will allow her to hit the ground running in her new role as Executive Director of the Louisville Metro Housing Authority," Eric Enderlin, president of the HDC, said in a news release Tuesday. "Throughout her career, Elizabeth has been instrumental in advancing both our city and our nation’s affordable and public housing goals, advocating tirelessly for the resources we need at all levels of government to do this critical work. Having worked closely with Elizabeth for many years, I know firsthand what an effective communicator and innovative leader she is. LMHA is fortunate to have Elizabeth at the helm."

Strojan will lead a department with more than 250 employees, oversees nearly 16,000 affordable housing units and has an annual operating budget of nearly $40 million.

She will succeed Lisa Osanka, who resigned in September weeks after some called for her termination. Osanka had been with LMHA for two decades and was named executive director in 2018. In a statement Thursday, she said "it has been an honor to lead this organization." 

Osanka recently came under fire for the conditions at several city housing units, including Dosker Manor in downtown Louisville. A recent tour of the public housing complex revealed mold, bed bugs, cockroaches, leaks and maintenance issues residents said were being ignored by LMHA. Dehydrated feces was clearly visible in one of the stairwells, and residents said both feces and urine are normal occurrences. Additionally, maggots were visible in a mechanical room on the first floor.

The apartments are subsidized housing with low-rent costs intended for seniors and disabled community members. The concerns prompted several Metro Council members to call for Osanka to be fired, saying she wasn't doing enough for the hundreds of people who live there because they can't afford to live anywhere else.

One resident, Samantha Morris, told the board that lower rent prices shouldn't mean poorer living conditions.

"The issues that LMHA are facing are serious. They are huge. They are not necessarily unique to Louisville," Strojan said Wednesday. "As I learn more from all of you, as we see what's happening on the ground here, as we assess what resources we have and what resources we need, I also want to make sure that we tap into those national networks and make sure we are learning from best practices and mistakes made at other housing authorities."

Dozens of Dosker Manor residents attended a LMHA meeting shortly after the announcement of Osanka's resignation, packing a room to voice their concerns and frustrations. But many left outraged with the lack of progress.

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