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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. Department of Housing ati 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 ati 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 Housing ni o ni 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 Housing, ti iṣeto ni 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 … (ati) 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

It is with great pleasure that I am able to introduce Mr. John Concannon as the Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Westbrook. Upon my retirement, effective June 30th, John will be leading the Housing Authority and its Westbrook Development Corporation into the next era to advance the mission to eradicate poverty and increase economic opportunities through quality affordable housing for the community and the region. The Board of Commissioners is to be commended for its vision and commitment to our mission through its selection of John Concannon and his vision and expertise to lead the organization into its future.

As I depart, I wish to acknowledge the highly committed, professional, caring, and skillful colleagues that I have been so fortunate to have by my side. It is with them that we have been able to remain at the pinnacle of performance and expand our programs and production in the past twelve years. I am forever grateful to the staff of Westbrook Housing Authority and Westbrook Development Corporation.

I am forever grateful and honored to have served the supportive and visionary Board of Commissioners of Westbrook Housing and the Board of Directors of Westbrook Development Corporation. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the people of the City of Westbrook as it has been an honor to serve alongside its dedicated City Administration and elected officials who have diligently been supportive of the Housing Authority and my role to provide quality, safe, affordable housing to the area.

Respectfully,

Christopher LaRoche
Eleto agba

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Aṣẹ ile Westbrook gba igberaga ni ayẹyẹ, gbega, ati adhering si Oluwa Ile ile ti awọn iṣẹ awọn ẹtọ ilu ti 1968 Bi a ṣe jẹwọ Ofin Ile Selice ati Alakoso Lyndon idahun si iwulo ti awọn eniyan ti Amẹrika ti Amẹrika. '... Nigbati Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ti pa ni Oṣu Kẹrin 4, 1968, Alakoso Lyndon Johnson lo ajalu orilẹ-ede yii lati bẹ fun ifọwọsi iyara ti isanwo. Nitori Oluwa 1966 Ṣi Ile Ile-iṣẹ ni Ilu Chicago, Dr. Orukọ Ọba ti ni ibatan pẹkipẹki pẹlu ofin ile ti o tọ. Aare Johnson wo iṣe naa bi iranti ti o baamu si iṣẹ igbesi aye ọkunrin naa, o si fẹ lati ni iṣe ti o kọja ṣaju DR. Isinku ọba ni Atlanta. ' Alakoso Lyndon Johnson forukọsilẹ iṣe ile ile ti 1968.

Iṣe ile ti o munadoko ti 1968 ṣe idiwọ iyasoto nipa tita, yiyalo ati inawo ti ile ti o da lori ije, esin, Orilẹ-ede abinibi tabi ibalopo. Pinnu bi atẹle-atẹle si awọn ẹtọ awọn ẹtọ ilu ti 1964, Bill naa jẹ koko ti ariyanjiyan ti o ni ilọsiwaju ninu Alagba, ṣugbọn o kọja ni iyara nipasẹ ile awọn aṣoju ni awọn ọjọ lẹhin apaniyan ti oludari awọn ẹtọ aṣofin Martin Luther King, Jr. Iṣe ile itẹ-iṣẹ itẹwọgba bi aṣeyọri ipinya ti o wa opin ti Iyawo Awọn ẹtọ Ilu. [orisun: Iṣe ile 1968, Gbogboogbo & Isọtun | Itan ]

Itan-akọọlẹ Ile itẹ
Ni Oṣu Kẹrin 11, 1968, Alakoso Lyndon Johnson White Ofin Awọn ẹtọ ti 1968, eyiti o tumọ bi itẹwọgba si awọn ẹtọ awọn ẹtọ ilu ti 1964. awọn 1968 Iṣe atunṣe lori awọn iṣe ti tẹlẹ ati idiwọ iyapa nipa tita, yiyalo, ati inawo ile ti o da lori ije, esin, orilẹ-Oti, ibalopo, (ati bi atunse) ọwọ ọwọ ati ipo ẹbi. Akọle VIII ti iṣe naa ni a tun mọ bi iṣe ile itẹ (ti 1968).

Igbese ti iṣẹ ile itẹ ile-iṣẹ ti Federal ni Oṣu Kẹrin 11, 1968 wa nikan lẹhin irin-ajo gigun ati nira. Lati 1966-1967, Ile-igbimọ deede ṣe akiyesi owo ile ile, Ṣugbọn kuna lati Garner A lagbara pupọ to fun aye rẹ. sibẹsibẹ, Nigbati Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ti pa ni Oṣu Kẹrin 4, 1968, Alakoso Lyndon Johnson lo ajalu orilẹ-ede yii lati bẹ fun ifọwọsi iyara ti isanwo. Nitori Oluwa 1966 Ṣi Ile Ile-iṣẹ ni Ilu Chicago, Dr. Orukọ Ọba ti ni ibatan pẹkipẹki pẹlu ofin ile ti o tọ. Aare Johnson wo iṣe naa bi iranti ti o baamu si iṣẹ igbesi aye ọkunrin naa, o si fẹ lati ni iṣe ti o kọja ṣaju DR. Isinku ọba ni atlanta.

Ọrọ pataki miiran lakoko akoko yii ni atokọ ijamba ti ndagba lati Vietnam. Awọn iku ni Vietnam sami ti o dara julọ lori ọdọ, Ko dara Ilu Afirika-Amẹrika ati ọmọ-ọwọ Hispanic. sibẹsibẹ, lori iwaju ile, Awọn idile awọn ọkunrin wọnyi ko le ra tabi ya awọn ile ni awọn idagbasoke ibugbe kan lori iroyin ije tabi ipilẹṣẹ orilẹ-ede wọn. Awọn ajọ pataki bi Naakp, Asọtẹlẹ GI, Ẹgbẹ ti orilẹ-ede ti awọn alagbata ohun-ini gidi (Nureb) ati Ijọba ti orilẹ-ede lodi si iyasoto ni ile lobbied fun Alagba lati kọja iṣe ile daradara ati atunse. Awọn Alagba Edward Booke ati Edward Kennedy ti Massachusetts jiyan pupọ fun aye ti ofin yii. Gegebi bi, Igbimọ Ilu Blooke, Ọmọ Afirika akọkọ-Amẹrika lailai lati dibo si Igbimọ Alagba nipasẹ Idibo olokiki, sọrọ ti ara ẹni lati Ogun Agbaye II ati ailagbara lati pese ile ti o fẹ fun ẹbi tuntun nitori ere-ije tuntun rẹ nitori iran tuntun rẹ.

Pẹlu awọn ilu to yato lẹhin Dr. Paniyan ọba, ati iparun wa ni gbogbo apakan ti Amẹrika, Awọn ọrọ Alakoso Johnson ati awọn oludari apejọ Rang Belii ti idi fun ile awọn aṣoju, ti o fi kọ iṣẹ ile itẹ. Laisi ijiroro, Alagba tẹle ile ni ọna ti iṣe, eyi wo ni o n wọle si ofin.

Agbara lati yan awọn oṣiṣẹ akọkọ ti o ṣakoso Ofin naa ṣubu lori Alakoso Johnson ni Alakoso Johnson, Richard Nixon. Alakoso NXon Tapped lẹhinna Gomina ti Michigan, George Romney, Fun ifiweranṣẹ ti Akowe ti ile ati Idagbasoke Urban. Lakoko ti o ṣiṣẹsin bi gomina, Akowe Romney ti gbekalẹ ni aṣeyọri fun Ifiweranṣẹ ti ipese t'olofin ipinle ti a leewọ iyasoto ni ile. Alakoso NXON tun yan Samueli Simmons bi akọwe iranlọwọ akọkọ fun aye ile dogba.

Nigbati Oṣu Kẹrin 1969 de, Hud ko le duro lati ṣe ayẹyẹ ọjọ-iranti 1st. Laarin ọdun ilodi, Hud pari Iwe-iṣẹ Iṣẹ Akọkọ VIII, o si fi ilana aṣẹ ẹdun ti a ṣe agbekalẹ. Ni asiko asiko, Hud ti gbalejo iṣẹlẹ kan ni yara iyẹwu ti Grand ti Ilu Gẹẹsi New York's Hotẹẹli. Lati kọja orilẹ-ede naa, Awọn onigbawi ati awọn oloselu ṣe alabapin ni irọlẹ iyanu yii, pẹlu ọkan ninu awọn ẹgbẹ ti o bẹrẹ gbogbo rẹ — Igbimọ orilẹ-ede lodi si iyasoto ni ile.

Ni awọn ọdun atẹle, atọwọda ti ṣe ayẹyẹ oṣu ile itẹ-lile ti o tobi ati tobi. Awọn gomina bẹrẹ si fun awọn ikede ti o ṣe apẹrẹ Kẹrin bi “Osu ile ile,” ati awọn ile-iwe kọja orilẹ-ede ti o sọ di mimọ ati awọn idije Essey ti o dojukọ lori awọn ọran ile itẹ. Awọn aṣeyọri agbegbe lati awọn idije wọnyi nigbagbogbo gbadun awọn irin ajo si Washington, DC fun awọn iṣẹlẹ pẹlu HUD ati awọn aṣoju ile-igbimọ wọn.

Labẹ awọn aṣofin tẹlẹ James T. Lynn ati Carla Hills, Pẹlu ifowosowopo ti agbegbe ti orilẹ-ede ti homebuilders, Agbegbe Orilẹ-ede ti Awọn onigbese, ati Igbimọ Ipolowo Ara Ilu Amẹrika ti a gba ile itẹ bi akori wọn ati pese “ṣ'ofo” aaye billboard jakejado orilẹ-ede naa. Awọn ọmọ ọdun 20 nla wọnyi nipasẹ awọn iwe-owo 14-ẹsẹ ti o gbe ifiranṣẹ ile daradara ni awọn agbegbe, Awọn ile-iṣẹ ile-iṣẹ, Awọn agbegbe Agrarian ati awọn ohun-ọṣọ ilu. Gbogbo agbegbe tun ni awọn ayẹyẹ tirẹ, awọn ipade, awọn ounjẹ, Awọn idije ati tẹlifisiọnu redio fihan pe HUD ifihan, ipinle ati awọn amoye ile ile aladani ati awọn oṣiṣẹ. Awọn ayẹyẹ wọnyi tẹsiwaju Ẹmi naa lẹhin ipo atilẹba ti iṣe, ati pe o ranti onibaje nipasẹ awọn ti o wa nibẹ lati ibẹrẹ. [orisun: Itan-akọọlẹ Ile itẹ – HUD | Hud.gov / U.S. Department of Housing ati Urban Development (HUD) ]