D.C. Housing Authority chief Keith Pettigrew selected to lead Chicago Housing Authority amid leadership transition

A cross-city leadership move in two of the nation’s largest public housing systems

The Chicago Housing Authority has selected Keith Pettigrew, the executive director of the District of Columbia Housing Authority, as its next chief executive officer, positioning a Washington-based public housing leader to take over one of the country’s largest housing agencies. The decision comes as Chicago continues a prolonged transition at the top of the authority, which has operated under interim leadership while city officials and the governing board worked through a CEO selection process.

Pettigrew has led the District of Columbia Housing Authority since November 2023, following his appointment by the agency. In that role, he has overseen a system responsible for public housing operations and the administration of federal rental assistance programs in the District.

How the Chicago appointment process works

Chicago’s housing authority is governed by a board of commissioners and operates within a framework that requires both local governance actions and federal compliance. The board’s selection of a CEO is a decisive step, but the timing of a leadership change can be affected by administrative requirements tied to federal housing programs and internal agency governance. Chicago has relied on interim executive management in the period following the departure of its prior CEO, with board chair Matthew Brewer serving in a dual leadership capacity as operating chairman and interim chief executive.

• Chicago has maintained interim executive leadership while pursuing a permanent CEO selection.
• The CEO role is central to oversight of public housing operations, voucher administration, capital planning, and modernization efforts.
• Federal program requirements can shape how quickly leadership transitions can be finalized and implemented.

What the move means for Washington’s housing authority

Pettigrew’s selection in Chicago raises immediate operational questions for the District of Columbia Housing Authority, including continuity of management, timing for a successor search, and stability of ongoing reforms. The agency has been under scrutiny in recent years for governance and performance challenges, including management capacity and oversight concerns that have been highlighted in prior federal assessments and local oversight processes.

If Pettigrew departs Washington for Chicago, the District will likely need to determine whether to name an interim executive director or move directly to a national search, while maintaining compliance with federal housing requirements and local accountability expectations.

Key issues awaiting the next CEO in Chicago

Chicago’s next housing authority leader will inherit a portfolio that includes public housing properties, a large Housing Choice Voucher program, and redevelopment and preservation efforts that intersect with citywide housing supply and affordability pressures. Leadership turnover and extended interim periods can affect project timelines, procurement, and resident-facing service delivery, making the transition period a focal point for residents, advocates, and city oversight bodies.

The leadership shift links two major housing systems at a time when public housing agencies nationally face aging buildings, constrained capital resources, and heightened scrutiny of management performance.

Next steps will depend on final administrative actions required to implement the appointment, as well as decisions in Washington about leadership continuity at the District’s housing authority.