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08.01.2022
Pascale Leone, a leader in the supportive housing movement and an anti-racist practitioner and equity strategist, has been appointed to the position of Executive Director of the Network. Ms. Leone has worked for close to two decades on a wide range of issues related to improving the lives of underserved and at-risk individuals with a focus on equity and inclusion.
For nearly nine years, Ms. Leone has held various positions at the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), a national nonprofit organization that works to serve vulnerable populations through supportive housing, while advocating for equity and deinstitutionalization. Most recently, she served as CSH’s Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, where she was responsible for crafting the organization’s strategic vision to advance a comprehensive Racial Equity Framework in pursuit of becoming an antiracist organization.
Ms. Leone joined CSH in 2013 as a Senior Program Manager, working on state and local initiatives in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to expand access to supportive housing for historically marginalized populations. In 2017, Ms. Leone was promoted to Associate Director where she oversaw the region’s health policy work and served as a national thought leader on CSH’s Healthy Aging in Supportive Housing initiative.
Prior to arriving at CSH, Ms. Leone worked at the American Lung Association, where she advanced smoke-free policy and regulatory changes at the state and municipal levels to promote health equity. She also managed racial and ethnic approaches to community health at the Black Women’s Health Imperative; and, before that, advocated for the protection and expansion of reproductive rights at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Ms. Leone started her career as an interim senior program coordinator at AARP before moving on to serve as the Greater New York Hospital Association’s first government and community affairs fellow.
“I am delighted to welcome Pascale Leone as our new Executive Director of the Network. Over decades, the Network has been central to the development of 55,000 supportive housing units across New York State,” said Chair of the Network’s Board of Directors Brenda Rosen, President and CEO of Breaking Ground. “Those most vulnerable are living lives of security because of the Network’s outstanding advocacy. But much more still needs to be done. We require strong leadership at the Network with vision, focus, and fortitude to ensure the continued creation of supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals and families. Pascale brings with her those attributes in abundance, and we are extremely excited for the future under her direction.”
“The Network’s selection of Pascale Leone as our Executive Director represents a continuation of the Network’s history of excellence in its leadership and advocacy in the field of supportive housing,” said Network Board Vice-Chair Frederick Shack, LMSW, CEO of Urban Pathways. “Pascale Leone brings a deep commitment, wealth of knowledge and the superior skills required to lead this organization its staff and the field into the future. As a member of the Board, I’m delighted to have Pascale Leone as the newest member of our team.”
“We are thrilled to find someone with a deep understanding and passion for supportive housing,” said Network Board Treasurer Ralph Fasano, Executive Director, Concern Housing. “With Pascale at the helm, the Network will continue to thrive in serving the supportive housing community.”
Ms. Leone received a bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany, State University of New York, double majoring in Political Science and Africana Studies; and a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy with a concentration in public health administration.
Since December 2020, she has served as the Vice President of the Health & Housing Consortium, a collaborative network of health care, housing, homeless, and social services organizations, and government partners with the shared goal of improving health equity and housing stability by fostering cross-sector relationships, informing policy, and building the capacity of frontline workers to support people with unmet health and housing needs.
Ms. Leone will officially start her new position at the Network on Sept. 14.