Traverse City Housing Commission (TCHC) Executive Director Tony Lentych is stepping down from his position effective May 16 to take a position with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. 

Lentych announced his resignation in a letter to TCHC President Heather Lockwood. "While it is certainly true that I still find my duties at TCHC fulfilling and professionally challenging, I could not ignore the opportunity to have a more direct impact on affordable housing policy beyond this region," he wrote. "Again, I say, thank you for this wonderful opportunity to have served my community in this role. I will miss working for all of the housing commissioners. I will miss working alongside my staff. I will miss collaborating with the many organizational partners who are equally committed to providing affordable housing in our communities. Most of all, however, I will miss the people that we all serve – it is my sincerest hope that they know that they made all of this work worth it."

In a statement, Lockwood said that “for over eight years, Lentych has been a tireless advocate for the housing needs of this region’s lower‐income families and individuals. He has worked hard to move the mission of our organization forward...TCHC is now in a stronger position both operationally and financially.” Lockwood said the board is confident it will attract a new director “in short order thanks to our recent successes that have elevated the profile of our organization.”

A special TCHC meeting has been called by the executive committee for Friday at 2pm during which the transition for the executive director’s positon will be reviewed in more detail.