The Board of HousingWorks Austin is excited to announce the appointment of Nora Linares-Moeller to serve as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective immediately.

“Nora has been a critical part of the HousingWorks team for many years,” said HousingWorks Chairman Michael Gerber, who also serves as President of the Housing Authority of the City of Austin. “She was vital to the success of our recent conferences on housing and economic opportunity and housing and health. Under her leadership, I am confident HousingWorks will continue to grow the discussion our city is having to provide all kinds of homes, in all parts of town, for all kinds of people.”

Linares-Moeller brings a wealth of experience to her new role. For the past five years, she served HousingWorks as a consultant, focusing on policy, conference planning and organizational development. Since August 2017, Linares-Moeller has served as the organization’s Interim Executive Director. Previously, she served in a variety of key public policy roles, including as a senior advisor to former State Comptroller John Sharp, and as the first Executive Director of the Texas Lottery Commission. Linares-Moeller was also the development consultant for the Keep Austin Affordable campaign in 2013, which spearheaded the passage of a $65 million bond proposal for affordable housing. A graduate of Leadership Texas and Leadership America, Nora stays busy as a community volunteer. She serves on the Board of Directors of Ballet Austin (Past President), as president of the board of the Sally M. Kingsbury Sarcoma Research Foundation, Inc., and as the Vice President for Governance for the Friends of the Family Justice Center (serving San Marcos and Hays County.) She also serves as a National Board Member and Vice President of the La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) organization, which was founded by Cesar Chavez.

“I am honored to be selected to lead HousingWorks Austin,” Linares-Moeller said. “HousingWorks has been fundamental in developing creative solutions to Austin’s housing and affordability challenges. I look forward to continuing the dialogue to raise awareness of the cooperative effort required to make housing affordable for anyone, anywhere in the city.”

HousingWorks Austin is a leading nonprofit affordable housing advocacy organization that aims to increase the supply of affordable housing in Austin. We provide research, education, advocacy and thoughtful, workable analysis and practical recommendations to affordability problems faced by stakeholders in diverse domains.

“Everybody wants to move here, but it is becoming more and more difficult for families to afford to live in Austin,” said Frances Ferguson, immediate HousingWorks Austin Past President. “Nora’s understanding of the importance of collaboration makes her the perfect person to unite local leaders around the core value that housing affordability is crucial to our city’s success.”