RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOMELESSNESS

Published on Thursday, March 14, 2024

PROVIDENCE, RI- The Rhode Island Department of Housing has named Tara Booker, an experienced professional in the homelessness field, to the position of Executive Director of Homelessness and Community Supports. Ms. Booker’s responsibilities will include planning, organizing, coordinating, monitoring, and advancing programs to assist Rhode Islanders experiencing homelessness.  

“We are pleased to welcome such a top notch leader and practitioner to the Department of Housing team,” said Secretary of Housing Stefan Pryor. “Ms. Booker will be an asset to our team as we build both emergency and longer term solutions for vulnerable Rhode Islanders.” 

Ms. Booker will work alongside Secretary Pryor to assist in the strategic leadership, coordination, and direction of activities related to homelessness.  

Born in Rhode Island, Booker has worked in Florida in a variety of positions – including the Chief Operating Officer and the Interim Chief Executive Officer for the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, Inc., the lead Continuum of Care agency (the coordinating organization regarding homelessness) in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. Through strategic support and advocacy, Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness enhances the crisis response system for the homeless and at-risk populations, aiming for improved community quality of life through coordinated efforts via the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and the Coordinated Entry System (CES). In addition to the programs mentioned, Booker has extensive experience working in and with the non-profit sector regarding programmatic, financial, and grant management (working with high level finance operations, creating and implementing successful strategic, work, and performance quality improvement plans as well as programs that provide rapid rehousing and homeless prevention). Among her previous positions, Booker worked at the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of the Suncoast in Florida from 2011-2017 in roles including the Director of Veteran Services and the Director of Volunteer Services & Community Outreach.   

Booker graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and applied social relations and later earned her master’s degree in nonprofit management from the University of Central Florida.  

“I am excited to step into the role of Executive Director of Homelessness and Community Supports with the Rhode Island Department of Housing,” said Tara Booker. “Working alongside the team, I am eager to collaborate on solutions to address homelessness and improve housing opportunities in Rhode Island.”