Shannon Steene, the longtime executive director of Carpenter’s Shelter, is stepping down next month, the organization announced today (Wednesday).
After 11 years leading one of Northern Virginia’s largest homeless shelters, Steene will be departing the role to be the CEO of Reston-based Cornerstones, providing advocacy and support to people who need food, shelter, housing, child care and other services in northwestern Fairfax County and eastern Loudoun County.
“It has been a phenomenal decade here,” Steene told ALXnow. “Carpenter’s has been on a tremendous journey, and I feel so much pride for what we’ve been able to do. At this moment, Carpenter’s is in a position of strength, and this is the perfect time for a new leader to come in.”
In Steene’s absence, Carpenter’s Shelter will be led by an as-yet unnamed interim executive director while its board of directors conducts a national search for a permanent replacement.
During his tenure, Steene oversaw an $8 million redevelopment, temporarily moving shelter operations from 930 N. Henry Street to the former Macy’s department store at Landmark Mall from 2018 to 2020.
The redevelopment, known as The Hoffman Center, “includes an Emergency Shelter for families, Rapid Re-Housing programming, David’s Place day shelter, administrative offices, ten Permanent Supportive Housing units, and eighty-seven affordable housing units owned and managed by the location partner, Housing Alexandria,” according to the shelter.
Steene also led the organization through the coronavirus pandemic while doubling its number of year-round beds by assuming operation of the 64-bed Alexandria Community Shelter on Mill Road in 2023.
Jonathan Wolcott, chair of the organization’s board of directors, said that the board is “immeasurably grateful” to Steene.
“Shannon’s stewardship has provided Carpenter’s with a strong financial and operational foundation for its next chapter of growth, and for a continued high level of services to those experiencing housing crises,” Wolcott said in a release.
Steene said that the interim executive director will have a lot of help.
“We need somebody in this role who can look at the plans for the future and honor the deep connection to history and the culture of this community, and who can see what we have and lead the charge,” he said. “We’ve got a robust strategic plan, a strong board, a big volunteer base of 1,200 committed members of the community. That’s a lot of assets for this leader to work with.”
