BOSTON -- The Planning Office for Urban Affairs (POUA) of the Archdiocese of Boston announced May 27 that Lisa B. Alberghini, president of the Planning Office since 2003, has accepted a senior leadership position with the Housing Partnership Network, a non-profit member organization of 100 top-performing housing developers and financial institutions working to create affordable housing and economic opportunity across the United States.

Alberghini, who has been named an Executive Vice President of the Housing Partnership Network, has over 36 years of experience developing affordable and mixed-income housing, with a focus on providing stable, secure and affordable homes to people across a wide range of incomes. She will conclude her 18 years of service with POUA on July 5.

The archdiocese said that Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley looks forward to appointing a new president of POUA shortly.

Alberghini joined POUA in 2001 and has been president since 2003. In her role as president, she has been responsible for leading POUA, including its housing development and advocacy work, social justice initiatives, and exploring the potential of developing surplus archdiocesan property and privately owned property into affordable housing. She has played a significant role in the region in affordable housing policy including creating innovative approaches to housing production, working to address the foreclosure and homelessness crises, advocating for affordable housing resources at the State and Federal levels, and providing Congressional and Legislative testimony to encourage effective policies.

"Lisa Alberghini has transformed the lives of individuals and families by providing them the security of an affordable home and in many cases literally lifting them out of homelessness," said Cardinal O'Malley.

"Her innovative approaches and expertise in creating the partnerships needed to develop affordable and mixed-income housing have been a blessing for the archdiocese, the City of Boston and the many communities of the Commonwealth that we serve. I cannot say enough about the enormous contributions she has made. Her ability to bring affordable housing to reality will long be admired and felt. While we will greatly miss Lisa, we are pleased that she is continuing her work in this area on a national level," the cardinal added.

"It has been a blessing, an honor and a privilege to do this work, and to see close up how having a stable and affordable home changes people's lives for the better forever," said Alberghini.

"I have worked with an amazing team of dedicated and talented professionals at POUA, a supportive and empowering board, committed partners, and great public leaders and businesses who share in the mission of the Office. I am so pleased that POUA is one of the member organizations of the Housing Partnership Network, and that I will be able to continue collaborating with the office in my new position," she said.

Since 1969, POUA has completed nearly 40 developments with almost 3,000 units of affordable and mixed-income housing. This has impacted more than 12,000 people, and channeled in excess of $625 million of investment into neighborhoods and towns throughout the metropolitan Boston area. Additionally, at least 25 percent of all rental housing developed by POUA is for the benefit of those at risk of or transitioning from homelessness.