Missoula Housing Authority Invites Community to Celebrate Jim McGrath and Elizabeth Marshall
MISSOULA – Monday, December 30, 2024 – The Missoula Housing Authority (MHA) announces the retirement of Jim McGrath, Director of HUD Programs, and Elizabeth Marshall, Property Manager for Palace Apartments, Uptown Apartments & California Street. McGrath and Marshall have a combined 41 years of dedicated service with the Missoula Housing Authority and the housing community.
Jim McGrath began his career at MHA in 2005, and over the past 19 years, he has played a crucial role in guiding the organization through significant growth in programs and staff. Highlights in his tenure include expanding HUD funded vouchers from 825 to 1250, dramatically increasing access to affordable housing for low-income families and individuals . McGrath helped MHA expand its role as a key partner in serving the homeless both in Missoula and around the state. McGrath gets particular satisfaction administering MHA’s modest Homeownership Voucher program. When he began at MHA, the program served 5 families; McGrath doubled that in his first year and eventually grew it to two dozen. It currently serves 13 families.
McGrath ends his tenure as Director of HUD Programs, overseeing all HUD-funded rental assistance programs. These programs include the Housing Choice Voucher program, the Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing, and special purpose vouchers such as HUD-VASH for homeless veterans. He also manages Mainstream vouchers for individuals with disabilities, vouchers for the Foster Youth Initiative, and Emergency Housing Vouchers with the support of six staff members. Notably, Jim has hired and trained dozens of staff including nearly 30% of current MHA employees.
"Jim McGrath has embodied and embraced the role of Public Servant throughout his career. He has tirelessly advocated for underserved segments of our population in Missoula and the State of Montana. Seeing housing as a critical human right, Jim has pulled every lever to maximize the number of Missoula neighbors that we can “Welcome Home” into safe and affordable housing,” said Sam Oliver, MHA Executive Director. “Always humble, forever knowledgeable, Jim is a staff member who will be greatly missed by the Missoula community.”
Jim McGrath's commitment to housing is evident through his extensive involvement on local, state, and national boards. He has actively participated in Missoula's At-Risk Housing Coalition (ARHC) and is President of the Montana Continuum of Care. Additionally, he has previously held the positions of President and vice president of the Montana chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). At the national level, he is a member of the NAHRO committee, contributing to the International Research and Global Exchange Committee. Many residents of Missoula may recognize Jim from his role on the Coordinating Committee for the highly anticipated Annual Five Valleys Housing Report, presented by the Missoula Organization of Realtors (MOR).
McGrath’s housing and community development work dates back to the early 90s, including being one of the founding members of the North Missoula Community Development Corporation.
Elizabeth Marshall began her career with MHA in 1995 as a resident in public housing. Her passion for housing initiatives in her community motivated her to join MHA’s Resident Advisory Board, and she later served on the Board of Commissioners. In 2002, she became part of the MHA staff as an Assistant to the Receptionist. Marshall subsequently joined McGrath’s rental assistance department, overseeing all waitlists and taking on the role of Program Specialist. For the past 12 years, Elizabeth has worked in property management. Currently, she manages 80 tax credit units at the historic Palace Apartments in downtown Missoula, Uptown Apartments, which provides single-occupancy permanent housing for the homeless community, and a newer six-plex at 110 California Street.
“Elizabeth Marshall is a living example of success empowered by the MHA Mission," said Sam Oliver, MHA Executive Director. "Starting as an MHA resident, Elizabeth often credits her time in Public Housing as a crucial step in her personal life and professional career. Over time, she left Public Housing, became a homeowner through MHA’s Homeownership Voucher Program, and worked her way up through the ranks in the Voucher Department. For more than a decade, Elizabeth has managed a tight-knit community at the Palace Apartments. Elizabeth built this community by making extra effort to house those who often had no other option. The years of Thanksgiving Dinners and Christmas cheer spread by Elizabeth stands as a stellar example for those following her footsteps – she will be greatly missed by her tenants and coworkers alike.”
Missoula Housing Authority will celebrate Jim and Elizabeth on Friday, January 3, 2025, at Draught Works Brewery from 4- 7 PM. The community is welcome to join their send-off into retirement.
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About MHA
The Missoula Housing Authority is an independent nonprofit public organization and the largest housing authority in Montana with a portfolio of 1,178 rent-restricted apartments and 1,200 rental assistance vouchers, providing affordable housing to more than 4,500 very low-, low and middle-income veterans, families with children, elderly and disabled, foster youth and homeless, as well as working Missoulians. MHA has been creating stable, affordable housing since 1978. For more information, visit www.missoulahousing.org.
Media Contact
Sara Stout
(406) 549-4113, ext. 727#
sara@missoulahousing.org
www.missoulahousing.org