The Denver Housing Authority's board of commissioners fired CEO Joaquín Cintrón Vega last Thursday, two weeks after placing him on administrative leave. The board has not disclosed what specifically sparked the split, saying only that it could not reach an agreement with the executive. Longtime DHA official Joshua Crawley will step in as interim chief while the commission figures out its next move.
In a statement to The Denver Post, board chair Charles Gilford III said the commission had placed Cintrón Vega on administrative leave "while working toward a mutually acceptable resolution" and that it had been "unable to reach an agreement" with him. The Post reports the board voted to terminate Cintrón Vega on May 28 and named Crawley interim CEO. Gilford told the paper the agency's "focus remains the same: supporting our residents and participants, keeping our properties running well, and advancing our strategic priorities."
Who Cintrón Vega Is
Cintrón Vega was hired to lead DHA after a national search and took the job in early 2024, coming from Lucas Metropolitan Housing in Toledo, Ohio, where he was president and CEO, according to BusinessDen. He previously ran the public housing division in Miami Dade County and was brought in to oversee large federal programs and a slate of local development partnerships. The agency's timeline shows he served as DHA's chief executive for a little over two years before the board's action.
Interim leadership
Joshua Crawley, set to serve as interim CEO, has worked at DHA for more than 20 years and currently serves as chief operating officer and general counsel, according to the Denver Housing Authority. Crawley has previously acted as agency counsel and interim director during leadership transitions and has overseen housing management and voucher operations. Board members said his appointment is meant to preserve operational stability while they determine a permanent replacement.
What this means for residents
The Denver Housing Authority manages a portfolio of more than 13,000 units and administers housing choice vouchers that support thousands of Denver households, according to BusinessDen. Major developments, including a planned 135-unit project on Federal Boulevard and the Sun Valley redevelopment, are already underway and will be overseen by Crawley's interim team, as reported by The Denver Gazette. Advocates say steady leadership matters for funding and timelines, and the board has emphasized that resident services and property operations must continue without interruption.
The board has released limited public details about the internal dispute and did not provide the terms of any separation. DHA officials, residents, and community partners say they will be watching for updates as the commission moves forward with a CEO search.
