HSI Leadership Transition Announcement

To Homeless Solutions’ Supporters, Community Partners, and Friends,

After 20 years of dedicated and inspiring work at Homeless Solutions, CEO Dan McGuire advised the Board of Trustees that he has decided the time is right to hand the reigns to the next visionary leader to drive our mission forward. Dan will be leaving Homeless Solutions at the end of June and is looking forward to recharging (and playing lots of disc golf!) as he plans his next chapter.

Dan and the Leadership Team have worked collaboratively with the Board of Trustees to position Homeless Solutions to tackle future challenges and seize opportunities to address the increasing number of homeless and housing insecure people in our community. Since our founding 41 years ago, HSI has grown with intention into the leading shelter and homeless services provider in Morris County. Our evolution continues as we are poised for the next 41 years with your continued support and partnership. 　　　　

Dan’s tenure at HSI has been filled with many significant contributions for which we are incredibly grateful and will remain a part of his legacy here. He joined HSI in 2004 and was named the Director of Housing Development soon after that department was created. Dan was named CEO in 2016. Several highlights of Dan’s tenure include:

• the addition of 111 units of rental housing to our extensive portfolio, including award-winning green construction
• the merger and renovation of the historic Mt. Kemble Home and our Women’s Campus  
• negotiation of an early exit from our Furnishing Solutions lease, which led to retiring a $400K budget deficit and returning the organization to break-even status in the following years
• the renewal of our shelter lease to add the ground floor and completion of our Next Level Shelter Renovation Project, which produced a new and expanded kitchen and dining room, as well as critically needed programming space
• launch of our overnight Winter Warming Center, which has been a lifeline for hundreds of street homeless people

Dan’s star perhaps shone brightest in the dark days of COVID, as our guests and staff were kept safe while the organization navigated unprecedented complexities and managed a positive budget variance. When COVID canceled the Gran Fondo cycling event, Dan quickly shifted resources to realize his vision for a “sleep out” event. A Night in the Cold was born and now raises more than four times the contributed revenue of the Gran Fondo and has actively engaged elected and policy leaders in helping to raise awareness and educate the public about homelessness in our area.

In addition to Dan’s many organizational achievements at HSI, his approachability and kindness are felt consistently, and appreciated by the entire staff, our shelter guests, and tenants. His commitment to transparency and justnessare especially commendable in these times and his affinity for Swiss Chalet baked goods and repertoire of Dad jokes will also be part of Dan’s HSI legacy. 　

With this leadership transition, HSI is fortunate that longtime supporter and Trustee Mary LeBlanc will be serving as interim CEO, supervising the Leadership Team and operations while the Board launches a search process to recruit a permanent replacement.  Mary is a seasoned corporate executive and operational leader and has a true passion for Homeless Solutions’ mission. (You are welcome to view her LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/marylealeblanc.)

The Board and Staff are extraordinarily grateful to Dan for his fortitude and grace in leading HSI through some difficult times and for his many contributions to growing and strengthening Homeless Solutions over the last 20 years.  Thank you Dan!

We will keep you apprised of the search over the coming months and thank you for your ongoing interest in our mission.  

Sincerely,

Diane Mann

Board of Trustees Chair