Alexandria’s Office of Housing director Helen McIlvaine will retire at the end of April, the city announced today (Tuesday).
McIlvaine joined the city in 2006 as the deputy director of housing and has been housing director since 2015. Starting on May 1, Deputy Director Aspasia Xypolia will serve as acting housing director.
“Helen’s dedication and leadership have made a lasting impact on Alexandria,” City Manager Jim Parajon said in a news release. “We are grateful for her 20 years of service and wish her all the best in retirement.”
The city credited McIlvaine with shaping the city’s long-term housing strategy, overseeing more than a dozen multiple affordable housing developments and preservation projects in Alexandria, leading the city through its Housing Master Plan process and managing community engagement for the upcoming Housing 2040 Plan.
Before joining the city government, McIlvaine led development efforts for Catholics for Housing, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia and Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing. Before making a career shift to focus on affordable housing, she was a practicing attorney.
McIlvaine and her husband live in the city’s West End.
