Athens-Clarke County Unified Government has officially appointed Melinda Lord as the Director of Housing & Community Development (HCD), as reported by the county's news release. With a wealth of experience spanning over two decades in community development, Lord has been serving as the Interim Director since February 2024, following the resignation of the former director, Roderick Wallace.
Lord's tenure in various roles throughout her career is a testimony to her commitment to tackling housing issues with a robust understanding and effective leadership skills. Her journey began in Greenville, SC, where she worked with a non-profit organization focused on providing transitional housing and support services to homeless individuals and families. She then transitioned to ACCGov in 2015 after almost thirteen years, only to quickly ascend the department's ranks and fulfill responsibilities that included managing program operations for a stint in Atlanta in 2022. Acting Manager Niki Jones has expressed confidence in Lord's abilities, stating, "In her time as Assistant Director and Interim Director, Melinda has demonstrated her ability to effectively lead the Housing and Community Development Department," according to the county's news release.
The newly-minted director holds a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on public administration and public policy from Georgia Southern University. As mentioned in the same news release, Lord's systematic approach towards increasing community partners' capabilities has not just been commendable but pivotal in ensuring that the department meets compliance requirements while still offering substantial services to the residents of Athens-Clarke County.
The HCD, where Lord will now take the helm, functions primarily as a facilitator of federal and local funding. These allocations go towards helping local organizations that play direct roles in providing affordable housing, economic development, and a variety of public services. With the use of grants such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Continuum of Care (CoC), and even federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, HCD strives to continually support initiatives within arenas of housing, homelessness, youth programs, mental health, and more. "I am honored to continue serving the Athens community in this new role and will work diligently each day to advance HCD’s mission in support of its residents," Lord told the county's news publication.
