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How Westbrook Housing landed the nation’s former federal HUD chief

By Robert Lowell Staff Writer

Portland native John Concannon, former director of the U.S. Dipatimenti ya malo ogona ndi Urban Development, is settling in as the new executive director of Westbrook Housing Authority.

Concannon is taking a breather while seeking funds to expand the number of local, affordable housing units.

“We’re watching closely the federal budget,” Concannon said in his conference room at Westbrook Housing. “We’re watching to see what happens.”

Concannon wrapped up his duties as HUD director in June and picked up the reins July 1 at Westbrook Housing, succeeding Chris Laroche, who retired. The housing authority’s seven-member board of commissioners hired Concannon after a nationwide search.

“We got very, very lucky to get him,” Colette Gagnon, chair of the Westbrook Housing Board of Commissioners, said in a phone call Monday.

A graduate of the Catholic Jesuit College of Holy Cross, Concannon volunteered with a Jesuit program to assist the homeless on Skid Row in Los Angeles in 2003, and also served a similar stint in Chicago until 2006. Following graduate school, he applied successfully for a job with HUD, launching a career of assisting people needing places to live.

Concannon was hired during the tenure of President Barack Obama, who he subsequently met at a Christmas party at the White House.

He was promoted to deputy HUD director in 2018 and became director in December 2022. Concannon’s office was in the HUD building just off the National Mall in the nation’s capital. The HUD secretary’s office was on the top floor.

Concannon served under three presidents. “I reported to a deputy assistant HUD secretary,” he said.

At HUD, Concannon focused on developing innovative policies to expand housing opportunities to benefit more people and he oversaw staff spread all over the country. He worked with 140 housing agencies nationwide, serving 600,000 families. “We got to travel a lot,” he said.

Well in advance of landing the Westbrook post, he relocated his family here four years ago. He and his wife, Ann, have two children, ages 5 ndipo 2.

Concannon played soccer at Cheverus High School in Portland and is a 1998 graduate. His wife is a Deering graduate, but they met in Philadelphia, where he once lived while working for HUD.

He applied for the Westbrook Housing opening after learning about the availability of it from a government connection in Maine. Gagnon described Concannon as youthful and as having a good sense of humor.

As a Washington insider, Concannon’s appointment at Westbrook Housing works “in our favor,”Gagnon said.

Westbrook Nyumba ali 14 properties with 1,800 households and he plans to follow the growth trajectory Laroche established.

Concannon said Westbrook Housing has been invited to Biddeford where it has four projects in the pipeline. He credits Laroche and the mayoral appointed board of commissioners with “a well-run organization.”

He will oversee a staff of 50 employees and has met with them.

He enjoys leisurely walks after leaving behind running to catch 6 a.m. flights from Portland to Washington and checking into hotels.

Now back at home, he has gained time to spend with his family and both he and his wife have relatives in the Portland area.

LaRoche retiring from Westbrook Housing position

By Robert Lowell Staff Writer

Chris LaRoche will retire Monday, June 30, as executive director of Westbrook Housing after more than a decade. John Concannon, a Portland native, has been named to succeed LaRoche. Concannon comes to Westbrook from the director’s position at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C.

“I’m handing him the keys,” LaRoche said in an interview June 20 at his Westbrook office.

LaRoche has been the executive director for more than 12 years. “I’m a little tired,” he said. “I’m going to take the summer to relax.”

He plans to spend time with his family and protest for democracy. LaRoche lives in York County and plans to do volunteer work, protest, and take courses at the University of New England and the UMaine System. “I’m looking forward to being a member of the community,” he said. “The biggest thing is to give back to the community — I want to hand out the sandwiches.”

Westbrook Nyumba, unakhazikitsidwa 1969 and overseen by a board of mayoral-appointed commissioners, provides affordable housing opportunities with 793 units in 14 developments. “We’ve grown about 40%,” he said in a reference to his tenure.

The agency also administers more than 1,000 vouchers in a Section 8 program so low-income residents can live in privately owned apartments in the city.

The total Westbrook Housing budget coupled with its Westbrook Development Corp. has an annual operational spending of $20 million with $130 million in total assets.

LaRoche described the executive director’s job as rewarding as it is demanding. LaRoche oversaw a staff of 50 employees and he has felt a responsibility to them. “The stress will be off,” he said.

A former Catholic priest, Coast Guard and Navy veteran, LaRoche began his public service at York County Community Action Corp. He left for adventure to hike the 2,182 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Mt. Katahdin in Maine to Georgia. “Every mile of it,” he said.

He saw numerous rattlesnakes and stopped counting the number of bears after 25. One morning at 5a.m. a bear was right outside his tent, but walked away. “That one got my attention,” he said.

Along the trail, he met a variety of people; he hiked with homeless people as well as a top executive at a large corporation.

A baby boomer, LaRoche grew up in Gardner, Massachusetts, a community he described as much like Westbrook. He said Westbrook accepted him as one of their own when he succeeded John Gallagher at Westbrook Housing. ‘The people we serve are everyday, regular people who worked hard,” he said.”The need is great … (ndipo) I hope the people of Westbrook feel I have served them as well as John.”

He praises Westbrook for its volunteerism and its community pride. “I have worked all over the state of Maine and there is no community like Westbrook,” he said.

In a ceremony earlier this month, Mayor David Morse presented LaRoche with keys to the city and lauded LaRoche as an “incredible resource” who has worked “tirelessly.”

06/16/2025

Zimakhala zosangalatsa kwambiri kuti nditha kuyambitsa Mr. A John Concennon monga Woyang'anira Executive Woyang'anira nyumba ya Westbrook. Mukapuma pantchito yanga, Kugwira June 30, Yohane adzatsogolera nyumba yanyumba ndi gulu lake la Westbrook lomwe lili mu era yotsatira kuti lithetse umphawi kuti muchepetse umphawi ndi kuwonjezeka mwayi wachuma m'nyumba ndi dera. Gulu la oyang'anira liyenera kuyamikiridwa chifukwa cha masomphenya ake ndikudzipereka ku cholinga chathu posankha kwa John Conan Conan Conannnon ndi ukadaulo wotsogolera m'tsogolo mwake.

Pamene ndimachoka, Ndikufuna kuvomereza zomwe zachitika kwambiri, dolo, kusamala, ndi ogwira ntchito mwaluso omwe ndakhala ndi mwayi wokhala ndi pafupi ndi ine. Ndi iwo kuti tidatha kukhalabe paphiri la magwiridwe antchito ndikuwonjezera mapulogalamu athu ndikupanga zaka khumi ndi ziwiri zapitazi. Ndine wokondwa kwamuyaya pantchito ya Westbrook nyumba ndi Westbrook concoution.

Ndine wothokoza kwamuyaya komanso wofunitsitsa kuti ndikhale ndi mwayi wothandizana ndi mayina anyumba ya Westbrook ndi bolodi ya oyang'anira. Lakhala Ulemu ndi mwayi wotumikira anthu amuzinda wa Westbrook popeza zakhala mwayi wotumikiramo kutumikiramo mzinda wokhazikika mumzinda ndi udindo wanga wopatsa mwayi, ochinjiriza, nyumba yotsika kuderalo.

Mwaulemu,

Christopher Laroche
Wotsogolera wamkulu

Fy2025 dongosolo la pachaka

FY2026 DZIKO LAPANSI

Ulamuliro wa Westbrook Guing amatenga kunyada pokondwerera, olimbikitsa, ndikutsatira Nyumba Yabwino ya ufulu wachibadwidwe 1968 Pomwe timavomereza kuti nyumba ndi yoyang'anira nyumba ndi Purezidenti jondon Johnson pakufunika kwa anthu aku United States of America. '... pomwe. Dr. Martin Luther King, JR. adaphedwa pa Epulo 4, 1968, Purezidenti Hendon Johnson anagwiritsa ntchito tsoka ladzikoli kuti lilimbikitsidwe kuvomerezedwa. Popeza 1966 tsegulani maofesi a nyumba ku Chicago, Dr. Dzina la King linali logwirizana kwambiri ndi malamulo okhala nyumba. Purezidenti Johnson ankaona zochitika ngati chikumbutso chokwanira kumoyo wa munthuyu, ndipo ndikufuna kukhala ndi zomwe zidachitika asanafike. Maliro a mfumu ku Atlanta. ' Purezidenti wa lyndon Johnson zizindikiro zabwino kunyumba 1968.

Kuchita nyumba zabwino za 1968 Kuletsa tsankho logulitsa, Kubwereka ndi ndalama zanyumba zochokera pa mpikisano, chipembedzo, dziko kapena kugonana. Cholinga chake monga kutsatira kuchitira ufulu waboma 1964, Bill inali mutu wa zokambirana zokhala ndi senate, koma adaphedwa mwachangu kunyumba ya oimira misasa ataphedwa kwa Mtsogoleri wa Riser Remounity Staten Luther King, JR. Kuchita nyumba yabwino kumakhala ngati kukwaniritsa komaliza kwamalamulo kwa boma. [Gwero: Kuchita Nawo Nyumba Zabwino 1968, Fedulo & Opelewera | Mbiri yazakale ]

Mbiri Yabwino Nyumba Yabwino
Pa Epulo 11, 1968, Purezidenti Hendon Johnson adasaina ufulu wa CIPOLO 1968, zomwe zimatanthawuza monga kutsatira mpaka kuchitira ufulu waboma 1964. The 1968 Chitani zomwe zachitika m'mbuyomu komanso zidaletsa tsankho logulitsa, yobwereka, ndi ndalama zanyumba zochokera pa mpikisano, chipembedzo, amachokera, kugonana, (komanso kusinthidwa) Madicap ndi banja. Mutu wa VIII wa mchitidwewu umadziwikanso kuti ndi nyumba yabwino (wa 1968).

Chida cha Federal Cousting Guous chochita pa Epulo 11, 1968 adabwera pambuyo paulendo wautali komanso wovuta. Kuchokera 1966-1967, Congress nthawi zonse amawona kuti ngongole yabwino, koma kulephera kulimbana ndi kuchuluka kwamphamvu. Komabe, Pamene Chiv. Dr. Martin Luther King, JR. adaphedwa pa Epulo 4, 1968, Purezidenti Hendon Johnson anagwiritsa ntchito tsoka ladzikoli kuti lilimbikitsidwe kuvomerezedwa. Popeza 1966 tsegulani maofesi a nyumba ku Chicago, Dr. Dzina la King linali logwirizana kwambiri ndi malamulo okhala nyumba. Purezidenti Johnson ankaona zochitika ngati chikumbutso chokwanira kumoyo wa munthuyu, ndipo ndikufuna kukhala ndi zomwe zidachitika asanafike. Maliro a King ku Atlanta.

Vuto lina lalikulu panthawiyi inali mndandanda wovuta wochokera ku Vietnam. Amwalira ku Vietnam adalemera pa zazing'ono, African yosauka-American ndi Spain. Komabe, Kutsogolo Kwanyumba, Mabanja a amuna awa sakanatha kugula kapena kubwereketsa nyumba m'malo ena okhala chifukwa cha mtundu wawo kapena dziko. Mabungwe apadera ngati Naacp, Ginamu, Magulu a National (Namita) ndi komiti yadziko yosemphana ndi tsankho la nyumba zomwe zimakusangalatsani chifukwa cha nyumba yanyumba yochita nyumba yabwino komanso yothandizanso. Manjator Edward Brooke Brooke ndi Edward Kennedy wa Massachusetts amakangana kwambiri kuti adulidwe. Makamaka, Senator Brooke, American-waku America-waku America yemwe amasankhidwa kukhala senate ndi voti lotchuka, analankhula zabwerera kwawo ku Nkhondo Yadziko II komanso kulephera kupereka nyumba yosankha banja lake latsopano chifukwa cha mtundu wake.

Ndi mizinda yoyipa pambuyo pa Dr. Kuphedwa kwa Mfumu, ndi chiwonongeko chikuyenda mu gawo lililonse la United States, Mawu a Purezidenti ndi atsogoleri achifumu adapumira belu chifukwa cha nyumba ya oyimilira, omwe pambuyo pake adadutsa nyumba yabwino. Popanda kutsutsana, Nyumba ya Senate idatsata nyumbayo m'ndime yake, omwe Purezidenti Johnson adasankhidwa mu malamulo.

Mphamvu Zosankha Oyang'anira Oyambirira Akuyang'anira Umboniwo adagwera pa Preward Purezidenti, Richard Nixon. Purezidenti Nixon adajambula ndiye kazembe wa Michigan, George Romney, Pakulemba kwa mlembi wa nyumba ndi urban. Pomwe akutumikira monga kazembe, Chinsinsi Romney chinali chitathamangitsa Campa adayang'anira kuvomerezedwa ndi madongosolo omwe adaletsa tsankho. Purezidenti Nixon adasankhanso Samiel Simmons monga Secretary yoyamba yothandizira nyumba yofananira nyumba.

PA Epulo 1969 wafika, HUD sinathe kuyembekezera kukondwerera chikondwerero cha Action. Mkati mwa chaka chovuta chimenecho, HUD imatsirizira mutu wa VIIIII kumunda wa VIII, ndikukhazikitsa njira yodandaula. Mu chikondwerero chenicheni, Hud adanyamula chiwembu cha gala mu Grand Balm of New York's Hotel. Kuchokera ku fuko lonse, Olimbikitsa ndi andale adagawana nthawi yodabwitsayi, kuphatikiza umodzi mwa mabungwe omwe adayambitsa zonse — Komiti ya National Molingana ndi tsankho.

M'zaka zotsatira, mwambo wokondwerera mwezi wokongola uzikula bwino komanso wokulirapo. Abwanamkubwa adayamba kufalikira komwe kudasankhidwa pa Epulo monga “Mwezi wokongola,” ndi masukulu m'dziko lonselo ndi mipikisano yokhudza mipikisano yomwe imayang'ana pa nkhani zabwino. Opambana kuderali kuchokera pamipikisano imeneyi nthawi zambiri ankakonda kupita ku Washington, DC ya zochitika ndi Hud ndi Oimira Awo Pachifumu.

Pansi pa Acler Alersary James T. Lynn ndi Carla Hills, Ndi mgwirizano ndi gulu la National of Coweicers, National Association of Expetors, ndi kutsatsa kwa Counral Councis Magulu awa adatengera nyumba yabwino monga mutu wawo ndikupereka “kwaulere” malo osungirako mtundu wonsewo. Mapazi okwanira 20 ndi ma 2-mapazi okwera pamatabwa oyang'anira nyumba yoyandikana nawo, malo opangira mafakitale, zigawo za Agrarision ndi Urban Cores. Dera lililonse linalinso ndi zikondwerero zake, Misonkhano, kuvala, Mpikisano ndi wailesi yakanema amawonetsa kuti ndi HUD, boma ndi akatswiri okwatirana ndi akuluakulu. Zikondwerero izi zikupitiliza mzimu kumbuyo koyambirira kwa chinthucho, ndipo amakumbukiridwa mwachikondi ndi omwe analipo kuyambira pachiyambi. [Gwero: Mbiri Yabwino Nyumba Yabwino – HUD | HUD.GOV / U.S. Dipatimenti ya malo ogona ndi Urban Development (HUD) ]