Housing Authority hires Belford

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 people.

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 conducting 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.

Melissa Terry, chairwoman of the authority, said Friday the quality of the work Belford did with the organizational audit was impressive. Many of the recommendations, such as online applications for potential residents and making direct payments available to landlords, are immediately achievable, she said.

The past 18 months have been contentious, but Belford has the skills to build camaraderie

with staff members, Terry said.

“She did a good job of demonstrating we’re all on the same team,” Terry said. “We’re here to innovate and go forward together.”

Belford’s salary will be $65,858 as a temporary employee. She will no longer provide consulting or website design services for the authority, as she had before.

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

Belford