Renee Ceely, longtime affordable housing advocate, embarked on a new journey earlier this month. After nearly 30 years at the Nantucket Housing Authority, Renee joined the Egan Maritime Institute to pursue her passion for maritime history. 

Over the last 30 years, Ceely worked tirelessly to create affordable housing opportunities for Nantucket’s workforce. When she first arrived at the Housing Authority, it was the only agency addressing the island’s affordable housing crisis. There were few resources to devote to the cause. Fast forward three decades, and it’s amazing to see the significant strides the Housing Authority has made to increase the island’s affordable housing supply. Contributions include a large community of low-income rental units on Benjamin Drive and Norquarta Drive, along with 40 mixed-income home ownership opportunities known as the Sachem’s Path development. 

In addition to creating numerous housing opportunities, Renee helped establish NHA Properties Inc., our non-profit now known as Housing Nantucket. Due to her foresight, Housing Nantucket established itself as the only locally based, private, 501(c)3 organization creating housing for low- and moderate-income year-round Nantucket residents. In the early 2000s, Renee assisted with the creation of the Covenant homeownership program. And today, with a foundation of providing affordable rental housing, our mission has expanded to include homeownership and education programs.

We are grateful to have collaborated with Renee over her long and successful affordable housing career. Without her persistence and advocacy, Housing Nantucket would not be where we are today. We wish her much success in her new adventures.