Lehman to lead continued expansion of Transitional and Supportive Housing
for Adults, Families, and Migrants as HELP USA responds to
ballooning homelessness crisis in New York City
NEW YORK, NY– (October 11, 2023) HELP USA, the renowned national homeless service provider, announced today that Dan Lehman has been appointed the next CEO and President. He will begin his tenure on November 15, 2023, ensuring the $150M agency continues to provide best-in-class services and programs to clients across more than 60 sites.
“After an extensive search, the Board of Trustees unanimously selected Dan from a list of very qualified candidates. He is the best choice to lead us into the future,” said HELP USA Board Chair Anthony Williams. “His expertise in managing the operations of complex nonprofits, coupled with his knowledge of the New York City nonprofit and government landscape, made Dan the standout candidate. We are confident that under his guidance, and with the board’s full support, HELP USA will continue to be a leader and innovator during this time of expansion and industry change.”
Lehman is a seasoned nonprofit and government executive with more than 30 years of experience and a strong track record of strengthening and transforming organizations. He comes to HELP USA from New York City-based Primary Care Development Corporation, where he has been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 2021.
Previously, Lehman has served as a Deputy Commissioner at both the New York City Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services and the New York City Health Department, as Chief Financial Officer, and then as Officer Chief Operating Officer at Children’s Aid New York (formerly The Children’s Aid Society); and as the interim CEO for the Collegiate Church of New York.
“HELP USA has long been an established and respected leading organization, and I am both honored and grateful to be selected for this position. The tireless work of the entire HELP team in the areas of transitional housing, supportive services, homelessness prevention, and domestic violence survivor advocacy is inspiring, as is their commitment to innovation and excellence,” said Lehman. “In the midst of a deepening migrant crisis and soaring homeless numbers in New York, the importance of organizations such as HELP USA cannot be understated.”
Lehman added, “Any statement about HELP USA would be inadequate without recognizing the incredible achievements during Tom Hameline’s 30-year tenure. Tom has been a visionary, a driver, and a relentless advocate throughout his career. I sincerely appreciate Tom’s willingness to remain at HELP through December to facilitate a smooth transition. He is, and should always be remembered as, an incredible asset to the organization.”
Lehman takes over as HELP USA prepares to welcome families to more than 300 new, affordable homes in communities of greatest need in Brooklyn and the Bronx. Several other critical, high-impact, purpose-built projects are also underway in Brooklyn (a 169-unit family shelter based on a trauma-informed design in Cypress Hills; a 200-unit shelter for homeless women in East New York) and the Bronx (a 194-unit transitional housing development for homeless families with onsite daycare in Highbridge). In addition, in collaboration with New York City government agencies, HELP is overseeing two sites for migrant families and actively preparing to manage more facilities in the future.
About HELP USA
HELP USA is a pioneering national nonprofit homeless service provider and low-income housing developer. HELP is dedicated to ensuring everyone has a place to call home by providing shelter for people in crisis, support to keep people securely housed, and building quality, affordable homes to strengthen vulnerable communities. Every day, over 1,500 dedicated employees work to address the root cause of homelessness at 45 residences and through over 60 prevention and support programs. Since opening its first site in central Brooklyn in 1986, HELP USA has served more than 500,000 people. For more information, visit www.helpusa.org.