The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has named Karen Davis as the deputy executive director. Davis, who resigned from her position on the IHDA board earlier this month, will assume her new role on Aug. 18.

“Whether as vice chair of the IHDA board or through her work in the private sector, Karen Davis has dedicated her career as a housing champion to assisting those in need, especially downstate,” said Kristin Faust, IHDA executive director.

Davis has more than 20 years of affordable housing and economic development experience. Most recently, she served as executive director of the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) Central Illinois, a position she had held since 2017. From 2015-2017, Davis served as director of the Office of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Springfield. She has also worked for Regions Financial Corporation in St. Louis, Missouri, and the Springfield Urban League Community Development Corporation.

“It is an honor to have this opportunity to assist executive director Faust and Governor Pritzker in enacting and overseeing policies to help families find a place to call home and revitalize communities throughout Illinois,” said Davis. “With more families and seniors struggling to find housing and the lasting effects of the pandemic, I look forward to joining IHDA at this critical juncture to help Illinois overcome these challenges.”