City Housing Authority chooses its new CEO

Meeting affordable housing needs in Columbia is the top priority for Phil Steinhaus, who will be the new chief executive officer of the Columbia Housing Authority.

After months of sifting through 75 resumes from applicants all over the country, Marvin Kinney, chairman of the Columbia Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, announced the board’s decision Friday.

“I think he could bring a wealth of knowledge to the housing authority,” Kinney said. “He is very knowledgeable with the social services agencies.”

Steinhaus comes to the Columbia Housing Authority after 12 years as director of the Office of Community Services for the city of Columbia. His background in city government, where he has staffed the Community Services, Human Rights and Substance Abuse Advisory commissions, helped him land the job.

“We were not necessarily making a housing background emphasis for hiring someone,” Kinney said. “We were looking more for a person that would be more of a chief executive officer with a strong business background.”

Steinhaus earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education and his master’s degree in public administration at MU.

Although Steinhaus has little experience in public housing, he said he is ready to help address the issues the Columbia Housing Authority faces. “I’m just very excited about how I can use my skills I’ve gained here,” he said.

Steinhaus will officially begin his new position on Jan. 16. One of the first tasks to confront him will be the housing authority’s waiting list for public housing, which now has 443 applicants. Steinhaus said it’s too early to offer specifics for how that waiting list might be trimmed.

“We plan to look at how we can address those affordable-housing needs,” Steinhaus said. “That’s the goal of our housing authority.”

The Columbia Housing Authority has been the target of criticism lately over proposed plans to demolish and redevelop 70 public housing apartments along Park Avenue. Although Steinhaus said he has not studied the proposal in depth and will not be part of the task force working on the redevelopment for the housing authority, he said he wants to improve the authority’s communication regarding the project.

Overall communication is also important, he said. “I want to make the housing authority a very transparent organization.”

Steinhaus emphasized the importance of getting the community involved with the housing authority and its decision-making. “We can’t do this alone,” he said. “It’s important for everyone to be involved.”

Steinhaus will be paid $85,000 by the housing authority; he earns $59,000 as director of the Office of Community Services.

“It’s with mixed emotions I leave the city,” Steinhaus said. “I’m going to miss my work here, but I’m looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.”

Columbia has seen many of its department heads move on recently. Within the past couple of years it has hired new directors for the departments of Water and Light, Planning and Development and Public Works. And just last month it tapped Assistant City Manager Bill Watkins to replace Ray Beck, who has been the city manager for 20 years.

Beck, however, doesn’t see that turnover as a negative.

“I think when department heads take promotions it makes you feel pretty good that they’re doing a career advancement,” Beck said. “I think Phil will do a good job down there. He’s done an excellent job for us.”