CEO of city’s homeless foundation resigns
The Calgary Homeless Foundation is launching a search for a new president and CEO after John Rook announced his resignation Monday.
The organization cited no reason for Rook’s resignation, but thanked him for his service in trying to end homelessness in Calgary.
“We appreciate all the work John’s done,” said Alan Norris, chairman of the CHF’s board of directors.
“He’s been involved in the nonprofit sector for years.”
The homeless foundation is in charge of implementing a 10-year plan to end homelessness in the city, in partnership with local social service agencies, government and community organizations.
The plan, launched in 2008, is currently undergoing a scheduled overhaul, following an earlier review in 2011.
In a prior interview, Rook said changing trends in the city’s housing market — where the rental vacancy rate is only one per cent — warranted holding the current review a year earlier than originally intended.
Local agencies have placed approximately 5,000 people in permanent housing since 2008, but the city’s homeless shelters continue to operate at capacity. The city’s low vacancy rate is being blamed for making it particularly difficult for people to move from shelters into housing they can afford.
“The senior management team is going forward with all the initiatives we have underway,” Norris said.
“It’s obviously a critical thing for our community.”
Gerrad Oishi, the CHF’s vicepresident of social enterprise, will serve as interim CEO while the agency launches a formal search for Rook’s replacement.
Rook, who couldn’t be reached for comment, was named to the CHF post in 2012, Rook replaced longtime CHF president Tim Richter, who now heads the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness.