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Canavan lands Bennington post
By: Susan Bush - January 20th, 2005
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| James Canavan Jr., Bennington Regional Affordable Housing Corp.’s new executive director, and staff members Donna LaVigne of North Adams,, Judy Perras of Manchester, Vt., and Pat Warner of Bennington, in their Bennington office. (Photo by Susan Bush) |
BENNINGTON, Vt. — Armed with excitement and experience, James L. Canavan Jr. of North Adams, Mass., said Tuesday that he is eager to tackle the tasks associated with his new job as the Bennington-based Regional Affordable Housing Corp.’s executive director.
" I am really excited about this opportunity," Canavan said at his new 302 South St. office. "This is my passion. I need to concentrate on the housing needs of Bennington County and the ways to meet those needs."
His enthusiasm was evident as he articulated ideas that could provide new housing options for Bennington County residents.
The non-profit corporation oversees about 240 housing units countywide as property owner or as a partner agency. Among the agency-managed sites are the recently completed Manchester Commons and the Cora B. Whitney Senior Living complex. The agency is governed by a volunteer board of directors.
Canavan said he wants to develop additional residential rental properties as well as offer more home-ownership opportunities. His plans include developing employer-assisted housing programs and working with area homeless shelter providers to prevent people from cycling repeatedly through shelter doors.
"I want to change the ending for these folks," Canavan said. "I'd like to see people end up with a place to actually live."
Canavan, who often jokes that he is the “trailing spouse” of Mary K. Grant, president of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, was hired to replace Diane Binnick, who left the executive director post in July. He said he was approached by Julius Rosenwald, a member of the agency's board of directors, after he participated in housing forums held last year in Williamstown, Mass. Canavan initially agreed to work in a part-time capacity and help the agency find a new executive director.
"But this is the kind of job I get passionate about, and I wanted it for myself," he said.
A salary is being negotiated, and Canavan's work hours are being fine-tuned, he said.
"They are allowing me to be flexible enough so that I can be the spouse of the president of MCLA, which is something that I love, something that's really fun," he said. "For the short term, I'll be there [at the agency office] as much as needed. If that's 40 or 50 hours, then that's what it is."
Jobs with a community-service focus require flexibility, he said. One possible schedule would put Canavan in the office on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and Canavan stressed that a final schedule would be determined by agency need.
On paper, Canavan and the agency appear well matched. Despite his “trailing spouse” jokes, Canavan's resumé includes serving as the CEO of Community Teamwork Inc., a Lowell, Mass.-based human services agency, the director of program development for the Brockton, Mass.-based Self-Help, Inc., and a community coordinator with the Cambridge, Mass., Department of Human Services. Canavan also worked in several capacities for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Communities and Development. While living in North Adams, he acted as a private consultant for clients including the Boston-based Massachusetts Community Action Programs Directors Association, the Institute for Community Economics in Springfield and the North Adams Community Development Corp. He serves on the Berkshire Community Action Council Board of Directors and the Images Cinema Board of Directors and has served on numerous housing, economic-development, and community-action commissions in Massachusetts.
His dedication to human and community service endeavors may be evident, but his age is not; when asked how old he is, Canavan simply answers, "I'm experienced."
While employed at Community Teamworks Inc., he played a pivotal role in establishing an employer-assisted housing program. The program launched when six city-based employers each contributed $10,000 in revenues for the project. The CTI offered financial assistance toward home-purchase down payments, and several lawyers donated a limited number of closing services. Housing rehabilitation loans were also available, Canavan said. The program was open to employees of the donating firms who were buying homes in Lowell for the first time.
"Up here, we wouldn't even need $10,000 [in individual contributions]," Canavan said. "A non-profit group would run the program. It is an idea. This is a program that brought working people to home ownership."
He said he is interested in bringing a YouthBuild USA program to the region. The initiative recruits high school dropouts between 16 and 22 years old and teaches building skills. Among the requirements are acquiring a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma and voter registration, Canavan said.
The affordable housing agency was founded in 1989 with a mission "to develop and preserve perpetually affordable housing in Bennington County," according to information provided by Canavan. Information about the agency: 802-442-8139. |
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