Our Team


The Housing for New Hope Team

Russell Pierce | Executive Director
A North Carolina native who has lived and served in seven states and the United Kingdom, Russ became executive director of Housing for New Hope in 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University, a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University, and a Master of Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. He was previously an executive with Church World Service, the ecumenical relief, development, and refugee services agency, including serving as national head of the CROP Hunger Walks. He also served as an executive with the United Methodist Church’s mission, relief, and development agency, Global Ministries/UMCOR, including serving as Director of the Advance. One of the oldest crowd-funding platforms in the country, the Advance raises $40-50 million annually in more than 100 countries.
Program Leadership
Kristi Page, Director of Client Services
Rikki Gardner, Government Affairs & Compliance Manager

Street Outreach
Valaria Brown, Program Manager
Rebecca Bourgeois, Lead Housing Stability Case Manager
Shaniqua Smith, Housing Stability Case Manager
Kayla Vogt, Housing Stability Case Manager
Erwin Baker, Engagement Specialist
David Newcomb, Engagement Specialist
Bryan Christenson-Diver, SOAR Specialist

Housing Location & Navigation
Terry Rogers III, Housing Navigation Specialist
Sharon M. Howell, Housing Navigation Specialist

Rapid Rehousing
Shanta Addison, Manager
Demetria Benjamin, Housing Stability Case Manager
Craig Wood, Housing Stability Case Manager
Sherice Hargrove-Byrd, Housing Stability Case Manager
Supportive Housing
Kristin Rogers, Streets to Home Program Manager
Nakeisha Whitfield, Clinical Specialist for RISE with Hope
Kaitlyn Wilson, LEAD Housing Stability Case Manager for RISE with Hope
 Joseph Euler, Peer Support Specialist for RISE with Hope
Taylor Jenkins, Vocational Specialist for RISE with Hope

Finance & Administration
Matt Hjelmhaug, Director of Finance & Administration
Tamaira Johnson, Manager of Human Resources and Finance
Jaclyn Derham, Accountant

Resource Generation & Community Engagement
April Johnson, Director of Community Engagement & Giving
Mary Grimm, Marketing & Communications Specialist

Our Board

Erica Maddox
Board Chair
Income Maintenance Supervisor
Durham County Dept of Social Services

Rev. Chris Breslin
Secretary
Pastor
Oak Church

Rev. Robert Kaynor
Treasurer
Board Member Emeritus
Chair, Finance Committee
Episcopal Priest
Dawn Bland
Office Madam
Center Studio Architecture

Kay Ferguson
Mitigation Specialist

Lizzy Hazeltine
Chair, Resource Generation & Community Engagement Committee
Growth Consultant
EHazeltine, LLC

Angela Holmes
Diversion Specialist Case Manager
VOA

Jarvis Martin
Chair, Property Development Committee
Principal
Stewart, Martin, & McCoy
Sarah Meiners
Marketing Manager
Longfellow Real Estate Partners

Chris Tuttle
Chair, Governance Committee
Lead Pastor
Westminster Presbyterian Church

Derek Williams
Capital Development Associate
Self Help Credit Union

Thomas Wilson Williams
Chair, Planning & Policy Committee
Senior Lecturing Fellow Supervising Attorney,
Start-Up Ventures Clinic

Careers

Working at Housing for New Hope
Founded in 1992, Housing for New Hope is a key partner in Durham, North Carolina's commitment to end homelessness. Join our team and help us connect our neighbors to housing and hope.

To Apply
Download the Housing for New Hope employment application and send with your resume and cover letter.
Current Openings
No current openings