By Robert Haugh

The Santa Clara County Housing Authority (SCCHA) reached into another California city to find a new CEO.

The SCCHA board announced the appointment of Fresno Housing Authority’s CEO Preston Prince to replace Katherine Harasz. She announced her retirement last October.

Prince was picked earlier this month and will take over in a few months.

SCCHA is the largest provider of affordable housing assistance in Santa Clara County. The SCCHA currently assists more than 19,000 households through the Section 8 program and below-market-rate housing.

The Fresno Housing Authority is one of the 20 largest public housing agencies in the country. 

Prince also served as executive director at Aurora Housing Authority and held senior development positions at Seattle Housing Authority and Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority in Washington.

“Prince’s community-based leadership style is a great fit for SCCHA and will help us best leverage resources to meet the housing and community development needs of our county’s most vulnerable residents,” said Board Chair Jennifer Loving.

“As a community builder, I will work with the private and public sectors to establish financial resources that will create vibrant and healthy neighborhoods for Santa Clara County residents,” said Prince. 

“Because of my ability to be a social entrepreneur, I will bring creativity and imagination that will allow The Santa Clara County Housing Authority to actively — and positively — address the health, wealth, and education of its residents.”