Joy Amaro announces departure from True North Housing Alliance
CHICO >> Following four years as executive director of True North Housing Alliance, Joy Amaro announced her exit from the position Friday.
Amaro has been the executive director for True North Housing Alliance which runs the Torres Shelter since August 2017. Amaro led the nonprofit through its Camp Fire response, the COVID-19 pandemic and spearheaded the Aurora North program.
Speaking with this newspaper, Amaro said she wanted to give time for the organization to find a replacement as well assist in the transition.
“I couldn’t just give a regular two weeks or 30 days notice because of recruitment and then COVID. It definitely takes a special person,” Amaro said. “I informed the board a couple months ago. I ultimately gave them eight months notice because I really knew it was going to be a long haul to find someone to replace me. It was super important for me to just know that the agency is in good hands.”
Amaro said the decision to leave was a difficult one. After more than four years as executive director, she added her busy schedule kept her from being as present for her family as she would like.
“It was an extremely difficult choice. I literally just had my four-year anniversary on Aug. 17. But I came to a point in my life where my daughter went off to college and she was my biggest helper with my younger son,” Amaro said. “I’m a single mom, and I just really wanted to be able to have more flexibility and be ‘team mom’ of this football team and just be more present. I just needed a change in my career path or my availability so I could be an amazing mom.”
Amaro, who will stay on until Dec. 31 as part of the outstanding months of her notice, said she expects to see completion of the first phase of the Torres Shelter’s expansion.
“I’ll be around to see that come to fru- ition but we also have plans for phases two and three and I won’t be a part of that,” Amaro said.
She also added her position can be difficult with community divisiveness although she feels as she gets ready to depart, the work she’s accomplished with True North has been well worth it.
“When the Torres Shelter was established in 2003, the rules were horrendous that people had to follow. If they didn’t, they would be asked to leave,” Amaro said. “It was just a nighttime shelter where people could check in it, at 4:30 p.m. and they had to leave at 7 a.m. because there wasn’t funding to support a day program.
They had nowhere to go.”
Amaro said being able to provide service 24 hours a day is one of the accomplishments she’s most proud of achieving, although she noted no accomplishment would have been possible without the help of the staff.
“We went from having 15 staff since I was hired in Aug. 2017 to 55 employees right now. And we’ve tripled our budget and just have really expanded our services,” Amaro said. “If it weren’t for all of us, none of this would have happened.”
Amaro said another standout development during her time as executive director is the beginning of Aurora North. Through the program, families are able to be separate from regular shelter housing while they work to secure permanent residence.
“At one point in time, we had 50 children staying at the Torres Shelter with 25 families. I’m watching these young children watching adults that maybe have mental illness go through these episodes. I was just watching these kiddos getting secondary trauma,” Amaro said. “So we started that program so when these families call, they don’t go into shelter. We were able to get families in and stabilize them, and we house them at a 50 percent success rate which is amazing when you consider 10 percent is considered good.”
As she prepares for the final months, Amaro said she’s hopeful on the search for a replacement.
“I’m optimistic that we’ll get someone that can take my place, that’s better than me, that may have a different skill set because I’m certainly not perfect. I have strengths, and I have weaknesses,” Amaro said. “Hopefully we get someone that’s just really well rounded, and we can make this transition smooth because the last thing I want to see is the organization struggling. As I told my board, I’ll be here if they ever need anything.”
Tim VanderHeiden, chair of the board of directors for True North Housing Alliance, said Tuesday the organization is just now beginning the initial steps of the job search.
“I don’t know what the future is going to bring,” VanderHeiden said. “We support Joy and all the work that she’s done from Camp Fire to COVID. I mean, handling congregate shelter during COVID has got to keep someone awake no matter what. It’s very stressful.”
In the search for a replacement, VanderHeiden said the nonprofit is seeking someone with a strong fiscal understanding and the ability to build on and continue the work Amaro has completed. He added they are also looking for someone to continue building relationships with agencies and Chico and Butte County officials.
“The person coming in would have to have that understanding. It’s going to be difficult. There’s no doubt about that but these are difficult jobs to fill and so far we’ve done a really good job,” VanderHeiden said. “The staff — those guys are miracle workers over there. There’s all kinds of stuff that goes on the staff deals with that is probably up in level to an acute care facility. It’s hard to explain but it’s one that can be really appreciated.”
Looking ahead, VanderHeiden said he has a good feeling the staff and Amaro’s eventual replacement will be in a good position.
“Our mission is to move out of homelessness with compassion, dignity and accountability,” VanderHeiden said. “We’re hopeful we can find someone that can take where Joy is at and move forward.”