Program director helped homeless get on feet

After 32 years in the U.S. Air Force, working primarily in policy and personnel issues, Dick Conn thought he’d end up in a second career typical for retired military — consulting, defense work, real estate or insurance.

Instead, he gravitated toward unfamiliar territory: the nonprofit sector.

“I’m an MBA, not a social worker type,” he said. “The last thing I ever thought I’d do was get involved with a homeless program. But I wanted to give back to the community and felt my management and leadership skills could be useful.”

Conn was right, colleagues say.

As executive director of Partners in Housing for 14 years, Conn has led a tenfold growth of the nonprofit organization that helps homeless families with children become self-sufficient. Conn, 66, retires Tuesday.

“He’s a visionary who sees opportunities others don’t,” said Rich Strycker, who’s worked alongside Conn in the nonprofit arena. Strycker is executive director of Greccio Housing, which provides long-term, affordable rental housing to low-income residents. “He’s very passionate about helping the homeless and has become well-respected. He’s often given the moniker ‘the dean of affordable housing’ because of his knowledge.”

Frank Stampf will become the next executive director at Partners in Housing. He joined the staff seven years ago as a part-time volunteer coordinator and worked his way up to director of operations.

It will admittedly be hard for Conn to give up what he calls “the best job in Colorado Springs.” He plans to spend some of his free time as an independent consultant to the organization, when he’s not jogging, improving his golf handicap and traveling with his wife, Marilyn.

Conn helped build Partners in Housing into the city’s “largest and best-established” organization in its niche — a two-year transitionalhousing program sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, said Bob Holmes, executive director of Homeward Pikes Peak, which coordinates local homeless services.

The late nights in the office have been worth it to Conn.

“If you can change the life of just one family, there’s not much more rewarding than that,” he said.

In its 15 years, the organization has helped about 450 families with children in a crisis situation get a roof over their heads, further their education, hone job skills, secure employment, and learn skills such as household budgeting and parenting techniques.

Under Conn’s leadership, Partners in Housing grew from a small organization that started as a program of Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs, able to house a dozen families, into an organization offering temporary housing to 70 families at one time, with an 85 percent to 90 percent occupancy rate and a 70 percent success rate in its two-year self-sufficiency program.

“Any leader wants to step down leaving the organization in good shape. We’re in good shape — we have a great staff and board, we’re in the black financially, and we’re continuing to grow,” he said.

Families pay 30 percent of gross income, adjusted for child care and medical expenses, for the transitional housing. Sometimes that’s zero, Conn said. HUD picks up the tab for the rest.

Another 70 families who earn less than 50 percent of area median income can rent housing from the organization, also at a reduced rate.

Partners in Housing owns the 140 units it provides for homeless and low-income families instead of leasing properties, a change Conn lobbied his board for.

He’s also increased the annual operating budget from $165,000 to $1.4 million. In the beginning, he was a staff of one and had no experience in fundraising. There now are 18 staff members.

“The mission is powerful, so I didn’t have to work very hard on persuasion. You have to have a good story to tell. Because we truly help people help themselves, it’s not hard for bankers, Realtors, developers, government and private foundations to be sold on it,” Conn said.

And Conn led the recent move to a new headquarters on the Myron Stratton property, which he calls “a dream come true.”

Those who know Conn say the job has been a perfect fit.

“Dick has been the organization’s biggest cheerleader,” said Diane Dulworth, a graduate of Partners in Housing’s two-year self-sufficiency program.

Dulworth was homeless with a 2-year-old child, the result of being “the typical drugs, sex, rock-and-roll high school dropout,” when she got help from Partners in Housing and moved on to steady, full-time employment and a permanent home.

“Dick was always polite, smiling and reassuring to me,” she said. “He kept everybody on their toes and moving forward.”

As Dulworth became self-sufficient, she was asked to join the organization’s board for a client perspective. She served as board president for a term.

“I cried when I heard he was retiring,” she said.

One of Conn’s greatest strengths has been his push for collaboration on projects, said Bob Koenig, executive director of Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust, which provides affordable housing and homeownership for families with limited incomes.

“You don’t find a whole lot of that in business because people want to keep their strategic plans to themselves, and you give up a certain degree of control. But the sum of the pieces is greater by working with other organizations,” Koenig said. “That’s a lesson Dick has taught this community.”

Conn initiated several partnerships, including a downtown revitalization project that converted a motel and attached restaurant into 30 transitional housing units and a community center, and a program that addresses home ownership, education and small-business development. Partners in Housing also owns several residential buildings with other local organizations.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0235 or debbie.kelley@gazette.com