Fayetteville Housing Authority board hires Belford as interim director

NWA Democrat-Gazette/STACY RYBURN Angela Belford (left), consultant with the Fayetteville Housing Authority gives a presentation Thursday as board members Lucky McMahon and Melissa Terry look on. The board hired Belford as interim executive director later in the evening.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/STACY RYBURN Angela Belford (left), consultant with the Fayetteville Housing Authority gives a presentation Thursday as board members Lucky McMahon and Melissa Terry look on. The board hired Belford as interim executive director later in the evening.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Housing Authority board selected Angela Belford as interim director late Thursday.

The board came out of executive session and made the announcement just before midnight.

Belford also serves as the chairwoman of the regional Continuum of Care, which is a coalition of service providers for homeless or at-risk residents.

The Housing Authority board hired Belford this fall to oversee an organizational audit, which she presented to board members earlier Thursday evening.

Belford said she wants to foster an environment of respect and consistency with Housing Authority staff during her time as director. The board is taking on a national search for a permanent director, which could take three to six months.

"How we treat our staff is going to be how we treat our residents," she said. "I think it is the utmost that we make sure our staff is well cared for, because then they are naturally going to care for our residents in the same way."

Belford owns the Belford Group, a marketing agency of which she recently stepped down as CEO.

A contract for Belford's employment with the Housing Authority has not yet been negotiated.

Former Executive Director Deniece Smiley was fired after a board meeting last month. Section 8 Director Laura Higgins filled in before Belford's hiring.

NW News on 10/27/2018

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