Press Release

Contact Information:

Hope W. White, Sanford Housing Authority (SHA) Board Chairperson

(919) 776-7655

Release Date: November 26, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sanford Housing Authority selects Next Generation Collaborative Leader as its new CEO

Sanford, NC, November 26, 2024 – After a six-month nationwide search, the Sanford Housing Authority (SHA) is excited to announce Dr. Michael C. Threatt as its new leader and CEO.

Dr. Threatt’s impressive career spans 19 years in the real estate industry, encompassing the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Notably, he has served in leadership roles for 12 years, including 9 years in executive leadership at public housing authorities (PHAs) in Alabama, as COO in Dothan, CEO in Sylacauga, and VP in Birmingham. He also spent time with the Hillsborough County and Tampa Housing Authorities in Florida earlier in his career.

Since 2019, he has been awarded 15 state, regional, or national affordable housing best practice awards for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of PHAs. This includes a 2019 CEO of the Year for Alabama PHAs. He has worked in urban, rural, and suburban areas, demonstrating his versatility and adaptability. His innovative experience establishing a Moving to Work (MTW) Agency under the Landlord Incentives Cohort #3 and Continuum of Care (CoC) homeless nonprofit in Dothan will be an asset to SHA.

“Our entire Board is thrilled to welcome Dr. Threatt as our new CEO. The changing business needs of the affordable housing industry requires the skillset of an innovative, collaborative leader with a modern-day leadership approach and entrepreneurial worldview. He understands that the future of affordable housing will require “outside the box” thinking, investing in technology, and collaborative partnerships, the hallmark of his nearly two decades in the industry.” – Hope W. White, SHA Board Chairperson.

As a licensed REALTOR®, Dr. Threatt’s diverse background uniquely positions him to contribute to SHA and its nonprofit development affiliate, the Central Carolina Strategic Developers, based on his understanding of the private, public, and dual housing markets. His unique perspective and real estate development experience with the HOPE VI, Choice Neighborhood, Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), and Rural Development (RD) programs have prepared him to lead SHA’s real estate development strategies, asset repositioning plans, neighborhood revitalization, and homeownership programs.

“I look forward to working with the Board of Commissioners and the staff at SHA. As the new CEO, I plan to provide healthy, safe, and sustainable affordable housing that promotes economic self-sufficiency programs, high-level aging-in-place supportive services, and workforce development opportunities that improve the quality of life for all Sanford and Lee County residents.” – Dr. Michael C. Threatt

Dr. Threatt obtained his Doctor of Public Administration from West Chester University (WCU), where his research focused on HCV landlords.  He received his Master’s in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of South Florida (USF) and his Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He wrote the game-changing affordable housing book, The Price of Bureaucracy, on housing policy reform and building better public-private partnerships through PHA-landlord relationships.

The growth of Sanford and Lee County and the need for affordable housing solutions led him to the region. Dr. Threatt’s leadership will drive the strategic planning efforts for SHA based on his innovative “Housing Authority of the Future” model, which he successfully implemented in Dothan. This will guide SHA in its new endeavors of providing affordable, supportive, and workforce housing options.

Throughout his career, he has understood that the greatest asset to a PHA is the housing professionals he has led, mentored, and worked with. He is dedicated to developing and ensuring that the SHA team is ready to pursue housing opportunities and supportive services to meet the needs of today’s households.

Dr. Threatt is committed to changing the affordable housing narrative in the region through mixed-income, mixed-finance, and mixed-use development by offering a range of housing options to bring the City of Sanford’s 2024-2025 Strategic Framework Goal #2: Preserving & Creating Affordable Housing to fruition.

Dr. Threatt is an Adjunct Social Work Professor at Troy University, and he completed the Executive Director Education Program (EDEP) certification through the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA). He serves the industry as a Board Director with the Southeast Regional Section 8 Housing Association (SERSHA) and on the Legislative Advisory Network and Community Revitalization & Development Committees for the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). He is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., NAREB, NACCP, & Rotary.

He is married to Dr. Jennifer M. Threatt, a Nursing Professor at Galen College of Nursing. They have three daughters: a college sophomore, a high school senior, and a junior. The Let’s Do It Together Foundation will host a welcome reception for Dr. Threatt and his family on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center, 1801 Nash St, Sanford, NC 27330, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Threatt’s first day with SHA will be December 2nd.