Keith Pettigrew Begins Tenure as new Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Housing Authority

Keith Pettigrew, Chief Executive Officer of the CHA.
Keith Pettigrew, Chief Executive Officer of the CHA.

Keith Pettigrew Begins Tenure as new Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Housing Authority

A new era at the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) begins today as Keith Pettigrew starts his tenure as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the third-largest housing authority in the nation.

Pettigrew, who previously served as the Executive Director of the Washington D.C. Housing Authority, is a nationally renowned public housing executive with a proven track record of leading complex institutional transformation and expanding affordable housing opportunities. CHA’s CEO position has been vacant since November 2024.

“It is an honor to step into this role and serve the people of Chicago,” Pettigrew said. “I grew up in public housing, so I know what access to safe and stable housing can mean for people. Chicago has a lot of work ahead, but there’s also a tremendous amount of opportunity right now, especially when it comes to strengthening core operations and investing in development on the South Side. I’m ready to hit the ground running and work hand in hand with resident leaders, the City of Chicago, elected officials, CHA’s staff and Board, and every partner who cares about this mission. We’re going to focus on getting the basics right, expanding affordable housing, and making sure residents feel heard, respected, and supported. That’s the standard I’m holding myself to, and that’s the future I’m excited to build together.”

“We’re excited to turn the page and begin the Keith Pettigrew era at CHA. Keith is a results-driven leader who knows how to step into complex systems and make them work for people. He’s led through tough challenges at large housing authorities, and he

understands that at the center of all of this are our residents. He brings both the technical expertise and the urgency this moment demands—and that’s exactly the kind of leadership CHA needs right now,” said CHA Operating Chairman Matthew Brewer.

Since CHA’s Board of Commissioners approved Pettigrew’s appointment on March 17, he has begun to have introductory meetings with resident leaders, CHA staff and other stakeholders. His appointment has generated praise from residents, partners and others.

In its resolution approving Pettigrew, CHA’s Board cited his strong track record of transforming large public housing agencies and expanding affordable housing access for thousands of residents. In his time at DCHA, Pettigrew developed a three-year recovery plan that has led to measurable progress, including significant increases in utilization across both the public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs. The plan created a clear roadmap to improve performance across the agency and was the result of a comprehensive assessment Pettigrew and his staff undertook following a critical HUD report detailing significant operational deficiencies and a decade of decline that predated him.

In Alexandria, Pettigrew is credited with significantly reducing turnaround time for vacant units and consistently maintaining a vacancy rate below 3%. He created and implemented a successful strategy to reposition the agency’s portfolio and increase the number of affordable housing units through the development of a $32 million multifamily project.

At the Housing Authority of New Orleans, Pettigrew helped lead a widely acclaimed turnaround, moving the agency out of HUD’s troubled designation in less than three years while significantly improving operational performance. Pettigrew also strengthened the Housing Choice Voucher Program by rapidly increasing utilization, including issuing 4,000 vouchers in six months, and improving public housing occupancy and unit turnaround times to ensure more families could access stable housing.

In addition to operational leadership, Pettigrew has advanced large-scale redevelopment and housing expansion initiatives through strategic partnerships with local governments, developers and community stakeholders. He has overseen complex housing portfolios serving tens of thousands of residents, managing hundreds of millions of dollars in annual operations while advancing mixed-income redevelopment, public-private partnerships, and repositioning strategies such as RAD and Section 18 conversions.

CHA launched a national search for a permanent CEO in spring 2025. More than 100 candidates expressed interest in the position. A CEO Search Committee, comprised of Board Members (including the President of CHA’s Resident Leadership Council) and government partners, evaluated the candidates and selected the finalists, including Pettigrew.

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